China Flanker Thread III (land based, exclude J-15)

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Looks that air station in ETC has become the “recycling center” for Su-30MKK/Mk2s from various units around the country while those units themselves are receiving new aircraft like J-16.

Actually I‘m not so sure … with several other S-30MKK seen from the 85th AB and these images likely related to the recent and still ongoing exercise I think it is indeed an ETC base (maybe Quzhou, home of the 85th?), but if the newly seen 17th AB is also from the ETC is another question and IMO it is more likely a WTC unit.
 

ougoah

Brigadier
Registered Member
J-11BG upgrade is such an important but overlooked part of PLAAF fighter modernisation. It's not as glamorous as 6th gens and new 5th gen variants but this is bringing over a hundred previously BVR weak (in the modern era, actually BVR incapable) J-11B into Su-35S BVR level.

Giving the J-11B a modern, third gen AESA and PL-15 integration was always needed. Surprised it took them this long to get to it. We are at around 450 5th gens produced for PLAAF and PLANAF. Overcapacity has its upsides :p
 

Tomboy

Captain
Registered Member
J-11BG upgrade is such an important but overlooked part of PLAAF fighter modernisation. It's not as glamorous as 6th gens and new 5th gen variants but this is bringing over a hundred previously BVR weak (in the modern era, actually BVR incapable) J-11B into Su-35S BVR level.

Giving the J-11B a modern, third gen AESA and PL-15 integration was always needed. Surprised it took them this long to get to it. We are at around 450 5th gens produced for PLAAF and PLANAF. Overcapacity has its upsides :p
I've heard rumors that J-11BG is not a comprehensive upgrade but just an antenna upgrade (Not even a full radar upgrade), which means it still uses the old backend paired with a new antenna like the APG-63(V)2 and possibly a software update to allow it to probably carry the PL-15 (?, as no evidence of it has emerged). Engines are upgraded but I doubt it's on purpose as it is more likely that the original AL-31F were worn out and were just replaced by WS-10As to simplify logistics neither was the avionic suite overhauled.

It's difficult to claim it's Su-35S level when Su-35S has a much newer avionics suite, much better engines, TVC for supersonic trim and it's PESA radar is extremely powerful due to raw average output power and probably a more modern backend.
 
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