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Shenyang J-11

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J-11
A PLAAF J-11A
General information
TypeAir superiority fighter
National originChina / Soviet Union
ManufacturerShenyang Aircraft Corporation
StatusIn active service
Primary userPeople's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built440 (as of 2019)[1]
History
Manufactured1998–present
Introduction date1998
First flight1998
Developed fromSukhoi Su-27
Developed intoShenyang J-15
Shenyang J-16

The Shenyang J-11 (Chinese: 歼-11) is a 4th generation twin-engine jet fighter of the People's Republic of China derived from the Soviet-designed Sukhoi Su-27. It is manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). The aircraft is operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF).

Development

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Proposed J-11

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Based on experience from the Vietnam War, the PLAAF issued a requirement in 1969 for a STOL light fighter to replace the Shenyang J-6 and Nanchang Q-5. The proposal from the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and Shenyang Aircraft Factory was designated "J-11"; it resembled a French Dassault Mirage F1 and was powered by a British Rolls-Royce Spey 512 engine. The project was abandoned as no suitable engine could be procured, and the competing Nanchang J-12 was far more advanced.[2]

Su-27 purchase

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Main article: Sukhoi Su-27 § China

China was the Su-27's first export customer.[3] China turned to the Soviet Union for weapons following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and the resulting Western arms embargo. China selected the Su-27 over the Mikoyan MiG-29. Three orders were made in the 1990s, and the deliveries of 36 Su-27SKs and 42 Su-27UBKs started in 1992 and continued into the 2000s.[4]

J-11

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In 1996, China and Rosoboronexport entered a US$1.2 billion agreement[5] permitting SAC to produce 200 Su-27UBKs[4] under license. Production would start using kits manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAPPO). Subsystems (avionics, radars and engines) would be imported from Russia and not be produced under license.[5] Furthermore, the agreement prohibited China from exporting its production.[4] Production began in 1997.[5] The first two were completed in December 1998 but were poorly assembled and required Russian assistance to rebuild.[4] Five were built by 2000, and another 20 by 2003, by which time production was of high quality and incorporated local airframe parts; Russia did not object to local airframe parts, which allowed KnAPPO to reduce the contents of the kits supplied.[6] Russia resisted China's demands for upgraded avionics, eventually upgrading the obsolescent N001 pulse-Doppler radar with the improved N001V. Production of the J-11A, an "indigenous" variant, began in 2000. By 2006, at least 105 J-11 and J-11As had been produced with improved domestic avionics.[4]

Co-production reportedly ended in 2004 with the development of the J-11B "Flaming Dragon"[7]—a variant with domestic subsystems, which was in violation of the co-production agreement.[6][8] However, through 2009 China continued to hold licenses to produce Russian aircraft and components, which included previously confidential provisions concerning intellectual property. The original licence did not officially include carrier-capable aircraft (e.g. Sukhoi Su-33) or variants (e.g. Shenyang J-15).[9]

By 2015, J-11s were upgraded with Chinese-made missile approach warning systems (MAWS). Unconfirmed upgrades included improved cockpit displays, and fire control systems for R-77 or PL-10 missiles.[10]

J-11B

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The J-11B is a multirole variant of the J-11 incorporating Chinese subsystems. It was conceived as a way to remove the J-11's dependency on Russia.[6] SAC unveiled a J-11B mockup in mid-2002. Three prototypes were delivered to the PLAAF for testing in 2006.[7] The two-seater J-11BS followed two years after the J-11B.[6] By 2011, reportedly 90% of the J-11B was based on subsystems and parts designed in China, with the engine presumably being a major part of the remainder.[6][11] Many domestic subsystems are improvements of those found on the Su-27SK.[11]

Chinese subsystems on the J-11B include Type 1474 radar, 3-axis data system, power supply system, emergency power unit, brake system, hydraulic system, fuel system, environment control system, molecular sieve oxygen generation systems,[6] digital flight control system, and glass cockpit.[7] The airframe is slightly lighter due to greater use of composites.[12]

The J-11B may carry the PL-12[6] and PL-15 air-to-air missiles[13][better source needed]

Engine replacement

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By 2004, the J-11 was being tested with the Shenyang WS-10.[14] Testing may have started as early as 2002; an image from the 2002 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition allegedly depicted a J-11 with one engine replaced with a WS-10.[15] WS-10 development proved difficult. One regiment converted to WS-10-powered J-11Bs in 2007, but was grounded for an extended period due to poor operational reliability.[16] The WS-10A reportedly matured enough after 2009 to power the J-11B Block 02 aircraft,[17] and Jane's reported the J-11B as powered by the WS-10 in 2014.[18]

Operational history

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PLAAF J-11Bs participated in Shaheen 1, a joint Sino-Pakistani exercise, in March 2011. This was the first time the PLAAF conducted "operational" aerial maneuvers in Pakistan with the PAF.[19]

P-8 interception

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A J-11BH with two PL-8 and two PL-12 missiles as seen from a P-8.

On 19 August 2014 a J-11B intercepted a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine warfare aircraft that was over the South China Sea.[20]

The U.S. Department of Defense released details at a press conference on 22 August 2014 with Admiral John Kirby as spokesperson. According to Kirby, the incident occurred 135 miles (217 km) east of Hainan Island, in international airspace. The Chinese jet "crossed under the aircraft with one pass having only 50–100 feet [15–30 m] separation. The Chinese jet also passed the nose of the P-8 at 90 degrees with its belly toward the P-8 Poseidon, believed to be displaying its weapons load-out. Afterwards, the J-11 flew directly under and alongside the P-8, bringing their wingtips, as I said, to within 20 feet [6 m]. And then conducted a roll over the P-8, passing within 45 feet [14 m]." He said the "unprofessional" and "unsafe" actions of the Chinese pilot was "not keeping with the kind of military-to-military relationship" the U.S. sought to establish with China. An official complaint was sent to China through regular diplomatic channels.[21][22] The Pentagon commented further that: "Military activities may be conducted within the Exclusive Economic Zone of another nation as an exercise of the freedoms of navigation and overflight."[20]

In response, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said that the U.S. criticisms were "totally groundless" as the Chinese pilot professionally maintained a safe distance. Furthermore, he blamed the "massive and frequent close-in surveillance" by the U.S. as the root cause, and called for the end of surveillance flights to improve bilateral military ties.[23]

Variants

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  • J-11: License-produced Su-27UBKs from Russian-provided kits.[4]
  • J-11A: J-11s produced with greater domestic content and improved avionics and cockpit displays. Some older J-11s and J-11As were upgraded to similar standard.[4]
  • J-11A MLU: J-11 mid-life upgrade program for the J-11A matching up to the J-11B standard, and includes improved avionics, such as missile approach warning system (MAWS), full glass cockpit, and new radar systems.[24]
  • J-11B (Flanker-L[25][26]): Chinese-developed variant with domestic subsystems[6] including Type 1493 radar and an added internal ECM system.[4] Block 02 was powered by Shenyang WS-10 turbofan.[17][18]
  • J-11BS (Flanker-L[25]): A twin-seat version of the J-11B.[10] In 2012, the number of J-11B and J-11BS in service was over 120.[27]
  • J-11BH: Naval version of the J-11B.[12][28] It was first sighted in May 2010.[12][29]
  • J-11BSH: Naval version of the J-11BS.[12][28]
  • J-11BG: Image first shown in September 2019 of an upgraded variant with light-grey radome.[30] Further information confirmed the existence of the J-11BG upgrade including AESA radar, avonics upgrade, helmet-mounted sight, and the capability to launch PL-10 and PL-15 missiles.[31]
  • J-11BGH: Upgrade of J-11BH, the naval version of the J-11BG.
  • J-11D: Variant possibly equipped with fixed electronically scanned array radar, IRST, and capability to fire heavier imaging/infrared (IIR) air-to-air missiles. The airframe makes greater use of composite materials, especially in the engine intakes, for lower radar observability. The wings have three hardpoints each. Unconfirmed reports claim it has a new fly-by-wire control system, glass cockpit, improved EW systems, and an improved version of the WS-10A engine,[32] called WS-10B.[33] Three prototypes were built between 2015 and 2016 with test flight conducted during the same period. The project was reportedly abandoned in favor of J-11BG upgrades for PLAAF and J-15B upgrades for PLANAF.[33]

Operators

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 People's Republic of China

Specifications (J-11A/J-11)

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Data from [36][37]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 21.9 m (71 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
  • Height: 5.92 m (19 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 52.84 m2 (568.8 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 16,380 kg (36,112 lb) [38]
  • Gross weight: 23,926 kg (52,748 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 33,000 kg (72,753 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 9,400 kg (20,700 lb) internal fuel[39]
  • Powerplant: 2 × Shenyang WS-10A "Taihang" afterburning turbofans, 132 kN (30,000 lbf) thrust each (J-11B Block 02[17][18])

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.35 (2,500 km/h, 1,553 mph) at altitude
  • Range: 3,530 km (2,190 mi, 1,910 nmi)
  • Combat range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi) ~[40]
  • Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,000 ft)
  • g limits: +9
  • Rate of climb: 300 m/s (59,000 ft/min) [41]

Armament

Avionics

  • Fire-control radar: NIIP Tikhomirov N001VE Myech coherent pulse Doppler radar, or Type 1474 radar (J-11B)[6]
  • OEPS-27 electro-optic system
  • NSts-27 helmet-mounted sight (HMS)
  • Gardeniya ECM pods

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Citations
  1. ^ Bronk, Justin (October 2020). Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends (PDF) (Report). Whitehall Report. Vol. 3–20. Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. ^ Gordon & Komissarov 2008, p. 92.
  3. ^ Gordon & Komissarov 2008, p. 104.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rupprecht, Andreas (3 January 2019). "The Chinese "Flanker" Story". Key Aero. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Saunders et al., p. 35
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Saunders et al., p. 36
  7. ^ a b c "J-11B fighter". People's Daily Online. 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. ^ Saunders et al., p. 46
  9. ^ Rupprecht, Andreas (December 2011). "China's 'Flanker' gains momentum. Shenyang J-11 update". Combat Aircraft Monthly. 12 (12): 40–42.
  10. ^ a b Fisher, Richard D. jr. (11 March 2015). "Images suggest upgrades to China's early series J-11s". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  11. ^ a b Saunders et al., p. 37
  12. ^ a b c d Parsons, Ted (10 May 2010). "Chinese naval J-11s spotted in the open". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  13. ^ "我军歼11B首曝挂载Pl15导弹 或换装有源相控阵雷达". 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  14. ^ Fisher, Richard Jr. (13 December 2004). "Report on the 5th Airshow China: Zhuhai, PRC, November 1-7, 2004". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Archived from the original on 2005-04-26. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  15. ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (7 October 2003). "New Developments in Russia-China Military Relations: A Report on the August 19-23 2003 Moscow Aerospace Salon (MAKS)". United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Archived from the original on 12 January 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  16. ^ Pomfret, John (25 December 2010). "Military strength eludes China, which looks overseas for arms". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  17. ^ a b c Rupprecht, Andreas (December 2011). "China's 'Flanker' gains momentum. Shenyang J-11 update". Combat Aircraft Monthly. Vol. 12, no. 12. pp. 40–42.
  18. ^ a b c Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (26 August 2014). "Chinese J-11BH 'aggressive' with USN P-8A, says DoD". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  19. ^ Zambelis, Chris (20 May 2011). ""Shaheen 1" Exercise Signals Expansion of China-Pakistan Alliance". China Brief Volume: 11 Issue: 9. The Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  20. ^ a b Capaccio and Greiling Keane, Tony and Angela (August 22, 2014). "Chinese Jet Barrel-Rolls Over U.S. Plane Bringing Protest". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  21. ^ Keck, Zachary (August 23, 2014). "China's 'Dangerous Intercept' of US Spy Plane". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  22. ^ "Defense.gov Transcript: Department of Defense Press Briefing by Admiral Kirby in the Pentagon Briefing Room". Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  23. ^ "China urges U.S. to stop close-in surveillance". Xinhua. 23 August 2014. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  24. ^ "国产歼11A航电升级型亮相 装备空军王牌部队(图)". Sina News (in Chinese). 16 January 2015.
  25. ^ a b The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226. S2CID 256916955.
  26. ^ "Chinese Equipment Guide" (PDF). US Navy Intelligence Office.
  27. ^ Richard D. Fisher Jr. (2012-03-19). "China Modernizes Air Force On Dual Tracks". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  28. ^ a b Yeo, Mike (2 November 2015). "PLAN holds snap drills in South China Sea". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  29. ^ "Can China Enforce a South China Sea ADIZ?". usni.org. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  30. ^ "J-11B images fuel speculation about AESA radar upgrade". Janes.com.
  31. ^ "J-11BG". globalsecurity.
  32. ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (5 May 2015). "Images show J-11D variant with possible new radar". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  33. ^ a b Rupprecht, Andreas (20 October 2023). "Red Dragon Flankers". Royal Aeronautical Society.
  34. ^ Rupprecht, Andreas (29 October 2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 978-09973092-6-3.
  35. ^ Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  36. ^ Sukhoi Su-27SK Archived 2013-09-20 at the Wayback Machine. KNAAPO.
  37. ^ "Sukhoi Company (JSC) – Airplanes – Military Aircraft – Su-27SК – Aircraft performance". Sukhoi.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  38. ^ "Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker Specifications". Sinodefence.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
  39. ^ "Sukhoi Company (JSC) – Airplanes – Military Aircraft – Su-27SÊ – Aircraft performance". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  40. ^ "Chinese Aircraft - J-11 [Su-27 FLANKER]". www.globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  41. ^ "Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker". Fighter-planes.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
Bibliography
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