CHINESE INTEREST IN Su-33
- Thread starter swimmerXC
- Start date
meh, I actually have this one put in the varyag thread. Anyhow, it's most likely that china will get the su-33m one, since they are likely to use Su-30mk3 avionics, which was originally developed just for China. As for TVC, I guess we will see. Consdiering that some of the current Chinese flankers will be undergoing engine upgrade, it's quite likely su-33m will use a better engine than the current AL-31F too.
This really clears up alot for me. We now know that Russia will be willing to sell China the Su-33 Naval Flanker. IMO, this is the way to go. It was built to fly on a carrier like the Varyag. I wonder if russia know's something about the Varyag that the rest of us don't yet know. Why else would they make this offer?
MIGleader
Banned Idiot
swimmerXC said:
i think it defvinitly will have tvc. the russians consider tvc vital to allowing an aircraft quickly take off again if it misses the arrester hooks.
it appears to me chinas only expressed some initial interst in the su-33 for a carrier, and might choose to evaluate the fighter more carefully, and against other options.
who knows what strategic prupose the carreir serve in chinas doctrine? thet would greatly affect the aircraft selection. but to all u china maniacs out thers, sorry, but i dont see a major deal comming anytime soon.
if china wants an air protection carrier, the kub is not the best choice. a mig-29c would do much better, since you can carry far more of them that flankers. but if the chinese want an attacker, the kub might be the way to go.
id take the su-33m for now. an airwing evolves as time goes on, ant theres no need to rush getting planes for a first carrier.
The problem remains with the Ski-jump configuration. These SU-33 will have a hard time taking off with air-to ground ordinance on a ski-jump carrier. I think the air-to-air only variant will be sold.
TVC adds additional weight to the airframe. As long as sufficient airspeed is kept, the aircraft will have no trouble taking off again.
TVC adds additional weight to the airframe. As long as sufficient airspeed is kept, the aircraft will have no trouble taking off again.
MIGleader
Banned Idiot
IDonT said:
im pretty confident russian aircraft designers know more about the applications of tvc on a plane that us. so if they think tvc assists emergency take off, they must be right. the extra weight added is not a hinderance considering the addtional takeoff power achieved.
seeing how the plan wants a blue water navy that mainly patrols around china and keeps the peace, and a2a su-33 is the better choice. but perhaps mikoyan will build a model for competition.
i'm pretty sure su-33m will be the one China gets. If you look at the recent flanker purchases by China, it has been emphasising the ability to conduct ground attacks and attacks against destroyers (this is pivotal in any Taiwan conflict scenarios.) It would make no sense for China to get an air defence only plane for varyag. As for whether or not su-33m or later variants can fly off, I think we can leave it to the good people at sukhoi. They are not idiots and won't sell anything that can't fly off the carrier.
It is possible that China would get the third choice, but I really really doubt it, since I think PLAN would consider it to be too immature of a platform.
It is possible that China would get the third choice, but I really really doubt it, since I think PLAN would consider it to be too immature of a platform.
MIGleader
Banned Idiot
tphuang said:
i thoguht the KUB was the the multi-role version, since the 33m has only one seat. aquisition of a Kub would no only beef up the carrier, but china's own attacker developments. the plane has a side-by-side forward section very similar to the su-34, and looks as if it will be able to house a powerful sea searching radar. but once again, the planes would probably only fire russian munitions.