Shenyang J-11

 

Shenyang J-11

The j11 aircraft is a Chinese fighter based on the Su-27SK. It can perform air superiority and ground attack missions with high speed and maneuverability

The Shenyang J-11 ( NATO reporting name Flanker-L) is a twin-engine jet fighter of the People's Republic of China. It is also a Chinese fighter based on the Su-27SK. It can perform air superiority and ground attack missions with high speed and high maneuverability. 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).

In 1996, China signed a contract for 200 Su-27s through Rosoboronexport under a coproduction scheme for a total of US$2.7 billion, separate from the original Su-27 contract. By the agreement, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) would assemble aircraft from kits manufactured by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAPPO), and fit them with Russian subsystems (avionics, radars, and engines) which would not be coproduced. Production began in 1997. The first two were poorly assembled and required Russian assistance to rebuild. 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. By late 2004, KnAPPO delivered 105 kits, and 95 J-11s were delivered to the PLAAF.

J-11

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.

Coproduction of the Su-27s reportedly ended in 2004 because China was developing the J-11B - a variant with domestic subsystems - in violation of the coproduction agreement. At the time, Russia refused to comment on the manufacturing of J-11B. At MAKS 2009, Rosoboronexport's General Manager Anatoli Isaykin said Russia and Sukhoi would "investigate the J-11B, as a Chinese copy of the Su-27". At the 2009 Farnborough Airshow, Alexander Fomin, Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Co-operation, reported that Russia had not asked China about the "copying" of military equipment and that China had licenses to manufacture the aircraft and its components, including an agreement on the production of intellectual property (IP) rights. He also confirmed the existence of an all-encompassing contract and ongoing licensed production of the Su-27 variant by the Chinese. This previously undisclosed IP agreement fuelled speculation about secret contracts or clauses in the original contract. The license does not officially include carrier-capable aircraft (eg. Sukhoi Su-33) or variants (eg. Shenyang J-15)

J-11B

J-11 Flaming Dragon

The J-11B "Flaming Dragon" 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. SAC unveiled a J-11B mockup in mid-2002. Three prototypes were delivered to the PLAAF for testing in 2006. The two-seater J-11BS followed two years after the J-11B. 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. Many domestic subsystems are improvements of those found on the Su-27SK.

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, digital flight control system, glass cockpit.] The airframe is slightly lighter due to the greater use of composites.

The J-11B may carry the PL-12 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles

Engine replacement

By 2004, the J-11 was being tested with the Shenyang WS-10. 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. 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. The WS-10A reportedly matured enough after 2009 to power the J-11B Block 02 aircraft, and Jane's reported the J-11B as powered by the WS-10 in 2014.

Specifications (J-11A/J-11)

J-11

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) 

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

Powerplant: 2 × Shenyang WS-10A "Taihang" afterburning turbofans, 132 kN (30,000 lbs) thrust each (J-11B Block 02)

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 mi) 

Service ceiling: 19,000 m (62,000 ft)

g limits: +9

Rate of climb: 300 m/s (59,000 ft/min) 

weapon system

Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon with 150r

Hardpoints: 10: 2 under the fuselage, 2 under air ducts, 4 under wings, 2 on wingtips, with provisions to carry combinations of:

Missiles:

PL-15 (Later B models and J-11D only)

PL-12

PL-10 (Later B and D models)

PL-9

PL-8

Vympel R-77

Vympel R-27

Vympel R-73

Rockets: Unguided rocket launcher

Bombs: Free-fall cluster bombs

Avionics

Fire-control radar: NIIP Tikhomirov N001VE Myech coherent pulse Doppler radar, or Type 1474 radar (J-11B)

OEPS-27 electro-optic system

NSts-27 helmet-mounted sight (HMS)

Gardeniya ECM pods

 The Chinese air force has been looking for a way to produce a counterpart to the fourth-generation fighter jets, used by NATO countries. The first idea about developing a Soviet-like fighter emerged in the late 70s when the Shenyang factory combined a light fighter design of the Soviet MiG-19 with a British Rolls-Royce Spey 512 engine. This project was known as the J-11 but eventually failed. However, this idea was resurrected two decades later.

   In the 1990s China signed an agreement with Russia, that allowed it to build 200 Su-27SK aircraft from Russian-supplied kits. Production of the J-11 began in 1998. It made its maiden flight during the same year. However, co-production of the basic J-11 was halted after around 100 aircraft were built. Some sources report that China violated the agreement by installing indigenous electronics. It seems that Russia refused to supply kits for these aircraft to China. Later China began to produce indigenous versions of this aircraft on its own.

   The J-11 is a twin-engine, single-seat air superiority fighter, based on the Sukhoi Su-27’s design. It has a Western reporting name Flanker B+. At the time of its introduction, it was a fairly respectable fighter jet with Russian engines and weaponry. It was a noteworthy adversary to US-made aircraft, such as Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon or Boeing F/A-18 Hornet.

   So far, there are 253 aircraft of various versions built and the production keeps on going. Produced by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in Northern China, all of the Shenyang J-11 aircraft, including the J-11A, J-11B, J-11BS, J-11D, J-15, and J-16 versions are used solely by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force. It has never been exported.

   The first 100 Shenyang J-11 aircraft were fitted with Russian-made Lyulka Saturn AL-31 engines. However, the later versions, namely J-11B and J-16 use Chinese-built Woshan WS-10A "Taihang" turbofans.

   The performance of the basic version of this aircraft, the Shenyang J-11, is very similar to Sukhoi Su-27, not only because of an almost identical design but also because of the equipment. This version employs Russian equipment like NIIP Tikhomirov N001V radar and armament including Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 30 mm automatic cannon and Vympel NPO missiles

Variants

   J-11A is basically the same aircraft as J-11, the only difference being in improved equipment. This version is equipped with a different electronic flight instrument system.

   J-11B is an indigenous Chinese version, fitted with locally-built radar, avionics, and weapons. Some sources report that up to 90% of components are indigenous. It also has some upgrades to the airframe. The existence of this aircraft was confirmed in 2007.

   J-11BS, a two-seat version of the J-11B. Essentially it is a combat-capable trainer aircraft, similar to the Russian Su-27UB. The first prototype was revealed in 2007.

   J-11D, an improved version of the J-11B, fitted with AESA radar and an upgraded WS-10 engine. Other improvements include a new cockpit, more radar-absorbent materials, two additional hardpoints, an in-flight refueling probe, and new electronic warfare systems.

   J-15 is a carrier-borne version, equipped with Chinese equipment and weaponry. The aircraft is nicknamed the Flying Shark for a good reason – it is faster than its predecessor, with a top speed of 2 940 km/h and a higher service ceiling.

   J-16 is the latest model coming out of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. This is a two-seat multi-role fighter. It is an advanced version of the J-11, based on the Su-30 and fitted with indigenous electronics. Also, it has an added ground attack capability. Production of this warplane began in 2012. This aircraft has been in service with the Chinese air force since 2013. By 2019 at least 128 J-16 fighters were operational.