Air superiority loadouts generally are quite light, weight-wise.
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
- Start date
The FC-31 won't be commissioned for a while, my guess is it's designed primarily for the carriers that are to come rather than the ones that have already been launched. With that said, if it can take off with a load that gives it longer range and/or more ordnance from the short takeoff positions on 001/A than the J-15, then all the better and could be a factor in it being chosen.
Only if you're flying a Flanker off a ramp, look at the Su-33 load-outs that went to Syria, they were light, because that's all the SU-33 wanted to carry off the ramp, J-15 specs are very similar, same basic powerplants and airframe, which may? be a little lighter due to the use of composites?? that's the active narrative here on SDF.
Check the load-outs on the Mig-29Ks that went to Syria as well, I realize that the Mig-29K was flying strike missions, but it would carry a very similar load-out for A2A.
If you are expecting trouble, and you're operating off a CATOBAR or a land base, you load em up,,,, Flankers and F-15s will haul a lot of air to air missiles, check those additional hardpoints.
In peacetime, when you're basically just orbiting the carrier flying "top cover" or CAP, you might only carry 2 to 4 AAM, wartime, no way, you're going to fill-er-up, NOBODY goes to a GUNFIGHT with only two to four rounds in the magazine, NOBODY!
If you are operating a 5 gen, you would load it up with everything you could carry internally on the 1st Day, after those Air Defenses are cleared, then you would install hardpoints and "Load-er-up"??
vesicles
Colonel
And Get-er-done!
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Full load or not AAMs are much lighter than AGMs and certainly bombs. SDBs are pretty light but still heavier than sidewinders. Aamraams are just a tad heavier than SDBs.
2 strong guys can easily carry a sidewnder on their shoulders. I know because I carrried one b4 and I ain't even that strong lol.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
I want to be clear though that standard practice is 3 guys. 2 guys only in more hmm pressing times
Skywatcher
Captain
As for having a Chinese equivalent to the F/A-XX, it'd be more logical to build something of that weight class in the 2035-2040 timeframe when the technology mature and need for it.
A carrier capable J-31, which possibly a 30-32 ton MTOW thanks to the carrier aviation modifications, should be plenty for Chinese CVG air superiority needs until then. Back on page 371 of this thread, I believe Sinosolder posted a video of an AVIC ex VP saying it was supercruise capable.
A carrier capable J-31, which possibly a 30-32 ton MTOW thanks to the carrier aviation modifications, should be plenty for Chinese CVG air superiority needs until then. Back on page 371 of this thread, I believe Sinosolder posted a video of an AVIC ex VP saying it was supercruise capable.
That's my point, when you see a J-15 operating off the ramp with two to four AAM, or a Russian SU-33 launching to go into combat in Syria with minimal stores?? that confirms what is widely known, those birds are too heavy to carry their intended loadout off that ramp.
If you had a massive thrust increase, or a RATO bottle, that would change the equation, the smaller lighter Mig-29K is quite likely to carry more off the ramp due to its lower wing loading and lighter gross in general.
Not saying they're not functional, just that they are significantly handicapped by no Catapult launch system, of course they can tank up on fuel in the air, but they can't complete a weapons loadout in the air??
Not with those Russian RD-93s, possibly if you could crank up the WS-13 which would likely be the intended powerplant if I'm guessing??
Stop it, you know you're a tough guy! and likely still "combat ready"!