J-11
A PLAAF J-11B
Role Air superiority fighter
National origin China / Soviet Union
Manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
First flight 1998
Introduction 1998
Status Active service
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

Produced 1998–present
Number built 440 (as of 2019)[1]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-27
Developed into Shenyang J-15

Shenyang J-16

The Shenyang J-11 (Chinese: 歼-11) is a twin-engine jet fighter of the People's Republic of China whose airframe is 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

Proposed J-11

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

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

In 1996, China Rosoboronexport entered a $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 the J-11B "Flaming Dragon"[7] - a variant with domestic subsystems - 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 (IP). The original licence did not officially include carrier-capable aircraft (eg. Sukhoi Su-33) or variants (eg. 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

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

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

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

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

Operators

 People's Republic of China

Specifications (J-11A/J-11)

Data from [36][37]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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. ^ 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.
  25. ^ "Chinese Equipment Guide" (PDF). US Navy Intelligence Office.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "J-11B images fuel speculation about AESA radar upgrade". Janes.com.
  30. ^ "J-11BG". globalsecurity.
  31. ^ "Top Five Most Dangerous Fighters the U.S. Air Force Could Face Today: From Chinese J-20s to Russian Su-35s". military watch magazine. 14 May 2022.
  32. ^ "First J-11BGH Fighters with AESA Radars Join Chinese Naval Aviation: What Makes Them So Dangerous?". Military Watch Magazine. 18 March 2022.
  33. ^ 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.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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

External links

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