PLANAF STOVL aircraft design from Cheng-Du

Jeff Head

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I believe the article was from February 2015.

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J-26_China_PLAN_Navy_STOVL_Aircraft.jpg

NavalRecognition said:
According to China Daily, China's aviation industry is working on the development of aircraft with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities needed for an important role in the Chinese navy's future operations, military experts said. "Research and development on components of STOVL aircraft, such as the engine, have started," Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told China Daily.

"The aircraft's principles are not new. They have been known for more than 40 years, so our aircraft designers should be able to develop the plane on their own," Wang said.

In late March, the Aviation Industry Corp of China, the country's leading aircraft maker, announced on its website that two of its subsidiaries - AVIC Chengdu Engine Group and China Aviation Engine Establishment - have signed a cooperation agreement on the development of the STOVL aircraft's engine. The statement said the STOVL aircraft project aims to strengthen the People's Liberation Army navy's amphibious combat capability and address the absence of such a weapon in the PLA's arsenal.

Compared with conventional fixed-wing aircraft, a STOVL plane can be readied for action in a shorter period of time and occupies less space in a hangar bay or on the deck of a ship. These features have made it a popular choice for naval powers since late 1960s, when Britain's subsonic Hawker Siddley Harrier became the first STOVL aircraft to be put in service.

Almost all STOVL aircraft in active service are based on the Harrier design, and they form the backbone of the naval forces of India and Spain.

This move is not the first time China has aimed to build a STOVL aircraft. In the late 1960s, the PLA asked the aircraft institutes to develop a fixed-wing plane capable of vertical takeoff and landing. The project was later abandoned due to technical difficulties.

The PLA also tried to buy the Hawker Siddley Harrier in the late 1970s, but dropped the attempt because of cost, according to Western military observers.

This time, AVIC appears to have made the right decision at the right time as the PLA navy now needs a STOVL aircraft because it will "significantly supplement and improve its amphibious capabilities", Wang said.

"Though the PLA navy now has an aircraft carrier - the CNS Liaoning - it still lacks the experience of developing and manufacturing such a sophisticated naval platform, so there won't be more carriers in the short term," Wang said. "Let's assume that a conflict breaks out between China and another nation in the near future; the PLA navy's limited number of carrier-borne fighter jets, the J-15s, would have to engage in long-distance strikes as well as air defense for the carrier battle group, and they would have to be divided into small groups to perform these tasks simultaneously."

If China had STOVL aircraft, they could be deployed on the CNS Liaoning and other ships to defend against incoming enemy aircraft, relieving the burden on the J-15s, which could then focus on long-range operations, Wang said.

"Actually, in the foreseeable future, I don't see a high probability of China's involvement in a war far from its shores. Being dragged into limited amphibious conflicts in or near our territorial waters would be more likely. The STOVL aircraft will be the best choice for air support in such conflicts," Wang said, noting that it would be a perfect match for China's future amphibious assault ships.
@navyreco, is this still viable news?

Seems to me it was talked about quite a bit back then, but nothing has materialized since.[/url]
 

Air Force Brat

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I believe the article was from February 2015.

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[/url]

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Seems to me it was talked about quite a bit back then, but nothing has materialized since.

Leave it to me to dredge up the past, and think I had found a "hot nugget"? LOL, but it is still news to me, but I rather doubt they have the ability to ramp up that level of development?? There is so much work and engineering invested in the Harrier, and now the F-35B?

Doesn't really look there is much interest, but I don't think I've ever started a thread, so I'll try to water it and keep it alive????
 
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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Leave it to me to dredge up the past, and think I had found a "hot nugget"? LOL, but it is still news to me, but I rather doubt they have the ability to ramp up that level of development?? There is so much work and engineering invested in the Harrier, and now the F-35B?

Doesn't really look there is much interest, but I don't think I've ever started a thread, so I'll try to water it and keep it alive????

I don't have a clue how my response to your post came out blue???? sorry Jeff, maybe you can fix it for me??? big dummy???
 
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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Leave it to me to dredge up the past, and think I had found a "hot nugget"? LOL, but it is still news to me, but I rather doubt they have the ability to ramp up that level of development?? There is so much work and engineering invested in the Harrier, and now the F-35B?

Doesn't really look there is much interest, but I don't think I've ever started a thread, so I'll try to water it and keep it alive????
I am sure that the PLAN would be interested if they had the capability right now.

But I think first they will concentrate on getting those air wings up on their carriers, and getting better helos for their LPDs and LHDs.

Heck, they haven't even built an LHD or gotten any experience with one yet...so the VTOL aircraft will come along perhaps after some of that?
 
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Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
I am sure that the PLAN would be interested if they had the capability right now.

But I think first they will concentrate on ttgin those airwings up on their carriers, and getting better helos for their LPDs and LHDs.

Heck, they haven't even built an LD or gotten any experience with one yet...so the VTOL aircraft will come along perhaps after some of that?

All true, and yet I find it interesting that Lockheed purchased the lift fan technology from Yak, and the fan is driven by a drive shaft off of the main shaft??? Very innovative, gives you vertical thrust on both ends as opposed to the RR Pegasus, of the Harrier??

While I have never been a big fan of the Harrier, it is at least very technologically interesting?? on the other hand the F-35B appears to bring practicality and performance up to a level of functionality that we have never seen, although I will confess the Marines have made good use of the Harriers capabilities, while not being "turned off" with its operational considerations.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
All true, and yet I find it interesting that Lockheed purchased the lift fan technology from Yak, and the fan is driven by a drive shaft off of the main shaft??? Very innovative, gives you vertical thrust on both ends as opposed to the RR Pegasus, of the Harrier??

While I have never been a big fan of the Harrier, it is at least very technologically interesting?? on the other hand the F-35B appears to bring practicality and performance up to a level of functionality that we have never seen, although I will confess the Marines have made good use of the Harriers capabilities, while not being "turned off" with its operational considerations.
Yes...Lockheed has taken some technology from others and coupled it with the stealth, lift, sensors, etc. that they have and brought it all together in the F-35B which will be a game changer for any nation that can get them on their ski-jump carriers.

That alone will force the Chinese to take a hard look at it whenever they get a chance.
 

delft

Brigadier
You don't need to have to have a weapon system in order to fight it. If we add the costs increases of F-35A and -C due to the development within the same program of -B to the costs of the -B's these would have been seen to be ridiculously expensive. Besides the main purpose of the STOVL aircraft program is that it can provide a supersonic fighter bomber that can be used from ships that by law cannot be fitted with cats and traps. China doesn't have such a law.
 
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