J-15 carrier fighter thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
I am not aware of carrierborne specific variants of other munitions (PLAN or that of other navies with carrier aviation) that are different to land based variants, from the perspective of corrosion.
The reason is probably something mundane and organizational.
Maybe it is indeed quite simple and so far the PLAAF has some sort of monopoly since until the J-15T arrived, no PLAN NA fighter was able to use them (at best the MLUed J-11BHG), so that they are not yet delivered to naval units?
I'm not suggesting that.
At this stage we have yet to see any J-11BG (whether PLAAF BGs or PLANAF BHGs) carry PL-15 -- in the case of J-11BG/BHG, PL-15 delivery may well be an issue of prioritization (J-20, J-10C, J-16 may have priority).
For J-15T, I am saying that as a new aircraft for the PLANAF that is almost certainly to have PL-15 as one of its primary weapons, the fact that we have yet to see J-15Ts with PL-15s could be any variety of mundane organizational reasons.
Putting it another way -- I do not equate J-15T and J-11BG or J-11BHG. For example, if J-11BG and J-11BHG are currently not tapped for PL-15s (even if they are compatible with them), then the J-15T would technically be the PLANAF's first fighter that is intended to field PL-15 as a primary weapon, and therefore the first reason for PLANAF to induct PL-15 to begin with.
As I said, I think being "surprised" at J-15T not having PL-15 (and indeed, as written in your tweet) is unnecessary at this stage and just ends up leading to speculation which may not be useful. Sometimes there are observations which are better left un-circulated because it just leads to potentially normal phenomenon being assailed as "strange".
If we go five years and don't see any J-15T with PL-15, then that would be a reasonable basis for questioning, but right now it's just too early.
Now that I think of it, maybe they're waiting for AEW/C integration into the air wing (namely for the KJ-600) to then integrate PL-15s.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
PLAN’s PL15 order got sent to Pakistan so they need to wait for the next batch. /jk
On a more serious note, I wonder if it’s to do with the PL15’s much greater size and weight.
You can do carrier landings with them, but maybe it’s not something you would want to do too often if it puts too much stress on the missile and/or pylon/airframe.
On a more serious note, I wonder if it’s to do with the PL15’s much greater size and weight.
You can do carrier landings with them, but maybe it’s not something you would want to do too often if it puts too much stress on the missile and/or pylon/airframe.
They're not that different to make the difference.
Flanker native weapon system is R-27E series in any case, which were 70% heavier than PL-15.
J-15Ds do just fine with their pods.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
And how often do the Russians do carrier landings with R27Es?
Pods are designed to be reused, missiles are designed for one shot.
It’s not that unreasonable to think maybe the designers, in a bid to minimise weight and maximise range, chose to make the missile shell lighter and one of the consequences is that it cannot withstand too many carrier landings.
It could just as easily be that the PLAN have decided to classify the PL15, so no pictures with J15s carrying PL15 is allowed to be published.
I assume quite often because Su-33's only BVR weapons are R27s. It's unlikely that PL-15s can't be used on carriers IMO, it's just probably because Liaoning and Shandong are still using a mix of J-15s and J-15Ts of which the former cannot use PL-15s so to simply logistics they just loaded PL-12s on the carrier.