SinoDefence Forum

Deino

I agree with You ... but the nose/front fuselage looks much slender than on a standard Flanker !

Deino

latenlazy

Looks like it either has side intakes, or the intakes aren't as tucked underneath the aircraft as a regular flanker's.

Semi-Lobster

Indeed, I think we can all agree there is more to this aircraft than 'just being an Su-33'. Whats interesting though is that whatever aircraft this is. It looks like its already painted PLANAF grey.

latenlazy

I still have my doubts. If the first pic was taken in 07, then either the J-15 has been in the works for a bit longer than we caught on, or the chance of this being a mock up with little association to the "Flying Shark" has just shot up.

It could be a perspective issue. If the side of the frame juts out more, the nose is further away and looks smaller...more evidence for side intakes?

Totoro

Here are some pics of su33 from the angles closest to ones seen in these pics.

http://www.flymig.com/maks_pictures/images/Su-33.4.jpg

http://www.defesabr.com/MB/Su-33_Dec..._Kuznetsov.jpg

plus a pic of mig29k taken from similar angle.

http://www.flymig.com/maks_pictures/.../MiG-29K.4.jpg

we could get more precise pictures if someone has a 3d computer model of these planes handy, and takes snapshots of them from the same angles seen in this thread.

Jeff Head

It's clear to me that the land facility is a full size mock-up that is going to be used for logistical and deck operational training. Very interesting development...and the island on the actual vessel is sure enough taking shape to look like the mock-up, or vice-versa.

AssassinsMace

It also looks like the hump on this fighter extends past hidden behind the tailfins unlike on a Flanker. A better picture will probably tell better.

planeman

v.cool developments. Agree most likely deck training not take-off/landings, that's just too dangerous and there is the ski-jump already at a Chinese airbase for that.

Intrepid

Chinese People do a lot in the same manner US-Navy people did 30 years before

Attached Images

SPY-1.jpg (26.2 KB, 137 views)

planeman

Damn, you beat me to it. Good point, yep I think US has several of these AEGIS training buildings

F40Racer

About that facility, the pictures that shows grey finish for the island seem to be the most recent.

SteelBird

Sina.com said it to be the carrier based aircraft for the Varyag. it looks like MiG-29 to me. I don't say that what we see here is 100%, however, from the second pix on, the island seems not to be on a ship.

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Bltizo

I don't think it's a Mig. The plane in the pic has underneath rudders, and if we use the people in the pic as a reference, it's height is greater than that of the Mig-29. Not to mention how China would have gotten their hands on a Mig-29...
It's definitely a flanker deriative.

AssassinsMace

Everything it differs from a Flanker can be said of the MIG- 29 as well.

SteelBird

It can be anything but a Su-27. The Su-27 family has a sharp long tail between the engine. The engines expose themselves a lot outside the airframe while this one you can only see the nozzle. But my questions:

1. Please confirm these are no PSed
2. Are the pictures (except the first one) in China?
3. Why do they try to build the island on top of a building? The roof of a building is not suitable to use as an air field.