Chinese Air Force (PLA-AF) News and Discussion

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #42
A Flight Global article citing the RUSI that the Chinese are now surpassing Russia in airpower technology in all aspects except engines. Their variants of the Flanker out class anything that the Russians build and can field, plus they have a LO aircraft operation whereas the Russians don't.

 

fozraro

Member
China unveils Wing Loong 10 attack drone, the 3rd one in the Wing Loong series after Wing Loong 1 (Predator sized) and Wing Loong 2 (Reaper sized). This one is jet powered and similar to Avenger.

 

fozraro

Member
A Flight Global article citing the RUSI that the Chinese are now surpassing Russia in airpower technology in all aspects except engines. Their variants of the Flanker out class anything that the Russians build and can field, plus they have a LO aircraft operation whereas the Russians don't.

Doubt it. In terms of avionics Su-57 is rated above J-20 and F-35 for that matter.

 

Boagrius

Well-Known Member
The possession of a DIRCM system gives it superior avionics overall? Doesn't compute. Either way the Su57 fleet seems unlikely to exceed 100 aircraft in the next decade. Given China's comparatively vast resources and modernisation plans, I would be shocked if the J20 fleet remains as small in the same timeframe...

 

fozraro

Member
The possession of a DIRCM system gives it superior avionics overall? Doesn't compute. Either way the Su57 fleet seems unlikely to exceed 100 aircraft in the next decade. Given China's comparatively vast resources and modernisation plans, I would be shocked if the J20 fleet remains as small in the same timeframe...

The order is for 76 Su-57, which is plenty enough for a small country of only 140 million people. China has 10 times the population of Russia, so 760 J-20 makes sense.
 
Last edited:

Boagrius

Well-Known Member
...which is not particularly relevant, since the original article examined the absolute capability and technological sophistication of Russian and Chinese airpower. The one area that the article seems to neglect is strategic aviation, where Russia appears likely to maintain a lead at least until the H20 is widely fielded.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #48
...which is not particularly relevant, since the original article examined the absolute capability and technological sophistication of Russian and Chinese airpower. The one area that the article seems to neglect is strategic aviation, where Russia appears likely to maintain a lead at least until the H20 is widely fielded.
Well the PRC have a reasonable sized fleet of H6 aircraft and there were rumours of them acquiring the licence to build the Tu-22M3 Backfire, but I don't know if that ever eventuated into anything. There were also rumours that they are after the Su-34 Fullback and don't know where they are with that. I would've thought that they would have acquired the Tu-95 Bear back in the 1960s but I suppose they didn't see the need for it. Mr Bear would've proved a very good asset for them now.
 

Boagrius

Well-Known Member
Well the PRC have a reasonable sized fleet of H6 aircraft and there were rumours of them acquiring the licence to build the Tu-22M3 Backfire, but I don't know if that ever eventuated into anything. There were also rumours that they are after the Su-34 Fullback and don't know where they are with that. I would've thought that they would have acquired the Tu-95 Bear back in the 1960s but I suppose they didn't see the need for it. Mr Bear would've proved a very good asset for them now.
Yes it's always been a curiosity to me that they have been content to stick with what is a modernised Tu-16 for so long. My suspicion is that we will see the H20 break cover in the next few years which will cause a kind of commotion in western defence media not seen since the J20 first appeared.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #50
Yes it's always been a curiosity to me that they have been content to stick with what is a modernised Tu-16 for so long. My suspicion is that we will see the H20 break cover in the next few years which will cause a kind of commotion in western defence media not seen since the J20 first appeared.
The US has stuck with the B-52. The H6 meets their needs and they have upgraded it so much that probably the only commonality that the modern H6 has with the Tu-16 is the airframe.
 

Boagrius

Well-Known Member
The US has stuck with the B-52. The H6 meets their needs and they have upgraded it so much that probably the only commonality that the modern H6 has with the Tu-16 is the airframe.
Very true. Plus when you're dealing in extreme range weapons like CJ-20 and ASBMs I suspect the H6 serves them well.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
Longer and heavier than the Chengdu Wing Loong I, more streamlined than the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B), thats the new China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) WJ-700 Lieying. It had performed its maiden flight on 11 Januari 2021.

Not much is known yet about the WJ-700, but it is stated that the unmanned aerial vehicle has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3,500 kg and an endurance of up to 20 hours.

Its not yet ordered by the chinese armed forces, but it has for sure export potential.

 
Last edited:

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Longer and heavier than the Chengdu Wing Loong I, more streamlined than the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B), thats the new China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) WJ-700 Lieying. It had performed its maiden flight on 11 Januari 2021.

Not much is known yet about the WJ-700, but it is stated that the unmanned aerial vehicle has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3,500 kg and an endurance of up to 20 hours.

Its not yet ordered by the chinese armed forces, but it has for sure export potential.

Looks like a clone of the General Atomics Avenger drone from 2009.
 

RoyZZConnor

Member
It seems that the deliveries of the J-10C are on hold.
It is unclear what the cause behind this is.

Seems unlikely this is true. Last I heard J-10C is replacing J-10A left and right. Unless they are waiting on delivery of AL-31 engines from Russia where production may be slow due to COVID hitting Russia hard.
 

RoyZZConnor

Member
Longer and heavier than the Chengdu Wing Loong I, more streamlined than the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B), thats the new China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) WJ-700 Lieying. It had performed its maiden flight on 11 Januari 2021.

Not much is known yet about the WJ-700, but it is stated that the unmanned aerial vehicle has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 3,500 kg and an endurance of up to 20 hours.

Its not yet ordered by the chinese armed forces, but it has for sure export potential.

How does this compare to Wing Loong 10?
 

RoyZZConnor

Member
The US has stuck with the B-52. The H6 meets their needs and they have upgraded it so much that probably the only commonality that the modern H6 has with the Tu-16 is the airframe.
H-6K has very different fuselage compared to Tu-16. The front is completely different.

 

RoyZZConnor

Member
It seems that the deliveries of the J-10C are on hold.
It is unclear what the cause behind this is.

Is this information credible? Could be a ruse by the Chinese.

@RoyZZConnor

You have been posting a lot of images without linking the source and you are making a lot of one line comments to other posts that add noting to the discussion. Looking at this one; on what basis to you consider it could be a ruse? Where is your evidence of this?

Your post should add something to the discussion and this does not. I am getting concerned that you are posting to simply increase your numbers.


Consider this a warning and please read the rules.

Alexsa
 
Last edited by a moderator:

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Train as you fight, not so sure this is a good thing given the tensions in the region. At what point do you start to doubt a radio intercept describing a simulated attack on your vessel, at the moment of missile launch?
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #60
Train as you fight, not so sure this is a good thing given the tensions in the region. At what point do you start to doubt a radio intercept describing a simulated attack on your vessel, at the moment of missile launch?
It does leave a lot of room for confusion and misunderstandings resulting in unfortunate events happening. The PLAAF are being somewhat gung-ho and cowboyish and this is not the first time by far.
 
Top