J-15 carrier fighter thread

4Tran

Junior Member
Registered Member
I think this is reading way too much into a few pictures. We know that the PL-15 is going to be compatible with the J-15T so it's a certainty that they will have access to them if they need to make combat sorties. The PLAN most certainly has trained in BVR warfare just as the PLAAF has, so it's not as if they don't know how much of an advantage the PL-15 confers. The only reason for these planes to not use PL-15s at all would be if they have something even better.

Well the radar is only as capable as the missile is in the grand scheme of things, plus the PL-15E is not particularly a competitive piece of equipment in light of the AIM-260, Meteor, and even the Astra Mk. 3.

If the PLAN really did not purchase or does not plan or purchasing PL-15s, the most likely explanation is that it's waiting for something new, either a particular launch platform or a new missile altogether (PL-16 for example).
The PLAN is pretty conservative in its purchasing decisions, so even if they have something better in the future, they will still buy plenty of PL-15 as a stopgap. The other factor in this is that while some militaries treat the super long range BVR missiles as something special, the PLA tends to treat them as regular munitions and wouldn't be worried by price or anything like that.
 

Neurosmith

Junior Member
Registered Member
I think this is reading way too much into a few pictures. We know that the PL-15 is going to be compatible with the J-15T so it's a certainty that they will have access to them if they need to make combat sorties. The PLAN most certainly has trained in BVR warfare just as the PLAAF has, so it's not as if they don't know how much of an advantage the PL-15 confers. The only reason for these planes to not use PL-15s at all would be if they have something even better.


The PLAN is pretty conservative in its purchasing decisions, so even if they have something better in the future, they will still buy plenty of PL-15 as a stopgap. The other factor in this is that while some militaries treat the super long range BVR missiles as something special, the PLA tends to treat them as regular munitions and wouldn't be worried by price or anything like that.
If procurement cost isn't a factor and neither is procurement strategy (i.e. waiting for a better product), then there would be no sense to the PLAN snubbing the PL-15, unless the rumor is false in which case this entire debate is moot to begin with.

My hypothesis remains that they're waiting for the launch platform (J-15 and J-35) to enter service in numbers.
 

4Tran

Junior Member
Registered Member
If procurement cost isn't a factor and neither is procurement strategy (i.e. waiting for a better product), then there would be no sense to the PLAN snubbing the PL-15, unless the rumor is false in which case this entire debate is moot to begin with.

My hypothesis remains that they're waiting for the launch platform (J-15 and J-35) to enter service in numbers.
I think that it makes sense. Before the J-15T was inducted, PLAN didn't have any platforms that could launch PL-15s. So any of these missiles in PLAN inventory would have to have been ordered in the last year or so. If a better missile is already available, then instead of the PL-15, the PLAN could simply order that better missile instead. It looks like the PLA isn't ready to reveal the existence of this new missile so all the J-15Ts we see will just use the PL-12s that the PLAN should already have a large stock of. If this is true, I imagine that the PLA won't be able to keep a new missile in wide distribution for very long so we might well see it unveiled at the Victory Day Parade.
 

Neurosmith

Junior Member
Registered Member
I think that it makes sense. Before the J-15T was inducted, PLAN didn't have any platforms that could launch PL-15s. So any of these missiles in PLAN inventory would have to have been ordered in the last year or so. If a better missile is already available, then instead of the PL-15, the PLAN could simply order that better missile instead. It looks like the PLA isn't ready to reveal the existence of this new missile so all the J-15Ts we see will just use the PL-12s that the PLAN should already have a large stock of. If this is true, I imagine that the PLA won't be able to keep a new missile in wide distribution for very long so we might well see it unveiled at the Victory Day Parade.
I've also heard others parrot the theory that the PLAN is trying to use up its old stocks of PL-12 first. Given that the PLAN is yet to induct new platforms and the PL-16 is still somewhat difficult to get ahold of, it would make sense to slap on PL-12s rather than dump the existing inventory for the PL-15 which will be replaced in short order anyway.
 

00CuriousObserver

Junior Member
Registered Member
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

On Saturday, June 7, between approximately 10:30 and 11:00 a.m., for about 40 minutes, and again on Sunday, June 8, between around 2:00 and 3:20 p.m., for about 80 minutes, J-15 fighter jets launched from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong followed a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft conducting surveillance over international waters in the Pacific.

During these incidents, the J-15s approached the P-3C unusually closely—at one point, flying just 45 meters away horizontally, with no difference in altitude. On the 8th, one J-15 even crossed directly in front of the P-3C’s flight path at a distance of roughly 900 meters, again with no altitude separation.

Such unusually close maneuvers by Chinese military aircraft risk causing accidental collisions. Japan has lodged a strong protest, expressed serious concern, and demanded steps be taken to prevent any recurrence.

No damage or injury was reported to the Self-Defense Force aircraft or personnel.

Image: J-15 fighter jet, photographed on June 8.

11c_02.jpg


11c_03.jpg
 
Top