PLA Air Force news, pics and videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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SinoSoldier
Colonel
An interesting exchanged on Weibo occurred between Pupu-2012 (a "big shrimp") and another Weibo user, during which the former might've hinted at a new attack/strike aircraft under development.
The exchange happened on a video commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the J-10's maiden flight. To paraphrase:
The last portion written by Pupu-2012 is a bit up to interpretation, so the original Chinese text is as follows:
Link to the post:
Any thoughts? Drone, new close-support aircraft, strike fighter, or even a fighter-bomber like the rumored "H-18"?
The exchange happened on a video commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the J-10's maiden flight. To paraphrase:
The last portion written by Pupu-2012 is a bit up to interpretation, so the original Chinese text is as follows:
Link to the post:
Any thoughts? Drone, new close-support aircraft, strike fighter, or even a fighter-bomber like the rumored "H-18"?
The only way a light attack aircraft could work as a viable, cost effective and not-a-deathtrap concept would be if it was unmanned. That's using it against near peer opponents. Of course, if it is to be used for counter insurgency then anything can go. But I don't think China has a need for a COIN plane.
There has been an ongoing rumour that hasn't had much attention paid to it, that GAIC was developing some kind of light attack aircraft.
But as totoro writes, the rationale for a traditional manned low or medium end attack aircraft, doesn't really make sense.
Presumably it probably isn't a high end stealthy aircraft as that would be... expensive and that doesn't seem to fit the prior vague descriptions of this supposedly being a "light attack aircraft".
So I would agree that being some kind of UCAV -- perhaps more high end than GJ-2 but lower end than GJ-11 -- would make the most sense.
But you'd think that if it were an unmanned aircraft, that it would've been mentioned even in the admittedly vague rumours about it so far.
But as totoro writes, the rationale for a traditional manned low or medium end attack aircraft, doesn't really make sense.
Presumably it probably isn't a high end stealthy aircraft as that would be... expensive and that doesn't seem to fit the prior vague descriptions of this supposedly being a "light attack aircraft".
So I would agree that being some kind of UCAV -- perhaps more high end than GJ-2 but lower end than GJ-11 -- would make the most sense.
But you'd think that if it were an unmanned aircraft, that it would've been mentioned even in the admittedly vague rumours about it so far.
Agreed, but only in parts.
My concern is, that it would be most likely again only a derivate of an existing airframe and if indeed from GAIC it will most likely be again a JL-9-variant.
However a modern turboprop trainer similar to the PC-21 or Super Tucano would be an ideal type, since it could also be used as a dedicated COIN aircraft. IMO such a type would be useful, but no longer a dedicated attack aircraft, which could be better replaced by UCAs.
Maybe something to replace JH-7/A?
Indeed, however what surprises and concerns me the most - especially in mind of this rumour and the new KJ-500 spotted - is the question on what else have we missed?
How big is our knowledge gap and what is the current status of our information?
Most likely unbelievably big.
If it was unmanned variant of JL-9 then that's actually a pretty interesting idea. A full sized plane, probably with very decent payload and even range figures, and likely dirt cheap to produce in numbers. Figuratively speaking. Could be used for bomb delivery, as decoy for enemy air defenses or in theory even as a huge (and definitely not cost effective) cruise missile if all else fails.
Yeah, that's why I treat all of the confirmed information and numbers we ever have as a minimum "base" of information and that the true extent and true numbers are likely greater than we realize.