J-15 carrier fighter thread

Alfa_Particle

Junior Member
Registered Member
Great question actually. This appeared in the video:
IMG_20240817_235114.jpgIMG_20240817_235215.jpgIMG_20240817_235316.jpg
And it actually looks short enough to be WS-10s. I don't have access to photo editing software but someone can try to manipulate the image to make it more clear.

WS-10s for reference:images(5).jpg

However, another J-15B also appeared later on and it's definitely AL-31s. Could be a different airframe though.
IMG_20240817_235133.jpg
 

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Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Potential jackpot.
View attachment 134347

Definitely looks shorter than AL-31s. WS-10 equipped J-15B confirmed?

AL-31s:
View attachment 134348

I would say NOT CONFIRMED.

They look a bit shorter than Al-31s, but the quality of the image is insufficient to make that declaration yet. We've had past images as well of Al-31s on other aircraft that looked like they had shorter nozzles but in picture quality that was otherwise poor which then was followed up as being Al-31 rather than WS-10.



Having a high standard for clearance to confirm engine identity (especially for a likely in production aircraft) should be normal.
 

Alfa_Particle

Junior Member
Registered Member
I would say NOT CONFIRMED.

They look a bit shorter than Al-31s, but the quality of the image is insufficient to make that declaration yet. We've had past images as well of Al-31s on other aircraft that looked like they had shorter nozzles but in picture quality that was otherwise poor which then was followed up as being Al-31 rather than WS-10.



Having a high standard for clearance to confirm engine identity (especially for a likely in production aircraft) should be normal.
Sure. How about "likely?"

I do want to see examples of how you can make the AL-31 look almost 1/2 shorter though. It's pretty clear side-by-side here that one is definitely much shorter than the other.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
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Sure. How about "likely?"

I do want to see examples of how you can make the AL-31 look almost 1/2 shorter though. It's pretty clear side-by-side here that one is definitely much shorter than the other.

I think "possible" is a better word.

We've been burned too many times with calling an engine's identity too early in the past.
 

Alfa_Particle

Junior Member
Registered Member
I think "possible" is a better word.

We've been burned too many times with calling an engine's identity too early in the past.
Wait, I've got a new angle.

J-15s equipped with AL-31s have pretty long nozzles. So long in fact, they protrude just a tad bit beyond the horizontal stabs if you look at it from most, if not all angles.

However, the J-15B in question have nozzles that doesn't stick out beyond the tails. Feel free to verify that by rewatching the video.

Case in point:

IMG_20240818_120047.jpg
(Regular J-15. The nozzles protrude just slightly beyond the tails.)

IMG_20240818_115754.jpg
(The J-15B in question. The nozzles doesn't extend beyond the horizontal stabs.)
 

Alfa_Particle

Junior Member
Registered Member
Crossposting from the land-based Flankers thread.
There's a rumor making rounds on Weibo claiming that the prototype airframe for the 13th batch of J-16s is "entirely green" with a tentative nickname of "J-16A." A J-15 airframe which is also entirely green was spotted also.
View attachment 134382

P.S. just in case anyone isn't aware, green parts of an airframe allegedly signify that the particular part is made from composites. Anyone want to guess the empty weight of these new Flankers (/jk)?

From:
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It seems that the J-15B may adopt an airframe that's almost entirely made out of composites along with a new iteration of the J-16.
 
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