“Flanker to Flanker”

Article by Shwetabh Singh (Twitter @singhshwetabh71)

A a news item dated 1 June 2020, had Chinese fighters flying 30-35 kms from Eastern Ladakh, India watching closely. The flight of Chinese fighters some 100-150 kms from the LAC, operating from PLAAF bases at Hotan and Gargunsa, and continued that “the IAF was keeping a watch on such movements”.

On 26 May, a twitter user @detresfa, who specialise in IMINT/OSINT, showed at least 4 Chinese Flankers (most likely J-11s) deployed at Ngari Gunsa dual use airport as tensions between India and China were increasing. On 2 June, another twitter user @RupprechtDeino, who specialises in PLAAF equipment, reported the presence of more aircraft at Hotan including some J-16s. Not long after, the Indian Air Force deployed its own Flankers (Su-30MKIs) in this theatre.

As more and more Flankers are airborne on both sides of the LAC, one can reasonably ask as to how many Flankers do both sides operate and which variants? This article aims to help!

The PLAAF has over the last two decades, evolved considerably and is now equipped primarily with local variants of the Flanker. The Chinese Flankers trace their lineage to the Su-27SK, which was export version of the Su-27 for China and Vietnam (SK = Sereeynyy Kommehrcheskiy or Customer Version). The Su-27SK had a higher MTOW (33,000 kg) compared with baseline Su-27s with a reinforced landing gear but avionics were ‘downgraded’. In the first half of the 1990s, China bought 48 Su-27s from Russia in two batches, which included 36 Su-27SKs and 12 Su-27UBKs. This was followed by negotiations for local co-production of Su-27SKs, but simultaneously a deal for Su-30s was also being negotiated between China and Russia. An initial order of 40 was placed and followed by another batch of 40, with first 10 Su-30MKKs being delivered by December 2000.

In July 2002, talks were reportedly on concerning possible sale of 30 Su-30MK2s, a naval derivative of Su-30MKK with a new radar, modified HUD and to be integrated with the Kh31A AShM. The deal was finally signed in August 2003 for 24 Su-30MK2s.

Shenyang J-11

With negotiation for local production conclusive, the Chinese contracted in 1996 for licenced manufacture of about 200 Su-27SKs to be known as the Shenyang J-11, with Russian avionics, radars and engines. The PLAAF received an initial batch of Russian built Su-27SKs and then CKD kits for further production which began in 1998, but stopped after some 100 aircraft were built. These were the original J-11As, however the PLAAF was reportedly not satisfied with these.

In mid-2002, the upgraded J-11B was revealed, powered by an indigenously developed engine, the WS10 (as opposed to the AL31F on J-11As which, were also retrofitted and then removed again on J-11Bs), radar (Type 1474), avionics, material modifications etc. The Russians reportedly offered the Su-27SKM in 2003 but this was rejected.

Around 120 J-11Bs were produced but according to Russian sources, these were done illegally without licence rights, not uncommon in China. Just as the J-11was based on the Su-27SK, the Chinese designed a trainer variant from the Su-27UBK called J-11BS, which is also combat capable. 

J-15

While the PLAAF was laying foundations for a modern air force with J-11A/Bs and Su-30MKKs, the Navy (PLANAF) also wanted to adopt the Type. Earlier, China had acquired a Su-33 prototype (T-10K-3) from the Ukraine in the early 2000s and used the structure of this prototype, combined with experience with the J-11Bs, utilising its avionics, to create the J-15 Flying Shark, well seen on Chinese aircraft carriers. Approximately 60 were manufactured and the PLAN’s carriers Liaoning and Shandong have a complement of 26 and 36 J-15s respectively and around 36 similarly on the third aircraft carrier under construction. The J-15A was a further development of the J-15, reportedly with a catapult gear. The J-15S is the twin seat variant and a dedicated EW variant has also been developed (the J-15D).

Alongwith development of J-11Bs, a naval variant was also produced, the J-11BH and a subsequent trainer version, the J-11BSH, but although used by PLANAF, these are not carrier capable. The latest J-11 variant is the J-11D which is equipped with the IRST, an AESA radar, improved WS-10A engine, range of new weapons like the PL-10, PL-21 etc. This first flew in 2015, and is supposedly in the same league, if not better than, the recently procured Su-35s. However, this programme’s future is uncertain.

Su-30MKK

While the single seater Su-27SK gave rise to the J-11 family, the Su-30MKK (multirole) and Su-30MK2 (maritime strike) were being closely studied by the Chinese. The twin seater Su-30MKK, a close cousin of the IAF’s Su-30MKI, shares some features of the Su 35, but differs from the MKI in many different ways, particularly the TVC, canards etc.

J-16

From the Su-30MKK, the Chinese evolved their latest multirole Flanker, the J-16, which also included features from the other twin seater, the J-11BS. Making its debut in 2017, the J-16 reportedly has an AESA radar, better IRST, is powered by the WS10B and can be equipped with a variety of weapons including PL-8, PL-10 air-to-air missiles, super and subsonic anti-ship missiles, satellite guided bombs, cruise missiles and electronic counter measurse. Around 128+ J-16s have been produced, this variant touted as “the Chinese counter to the F-15E Strike Eagle”. Among other variants, the most recent (and again most mysterious) is the J-16D, a dedicated EW variant with wing tip EW pods, but without an IRST and internal cannon present on the baseline J-16.

Su-35S

The PLAAF has also received 24 Su-35S fighter from Russia over the 2016–18 period, and were offered more batches of this Type in 2019, even though the Russians have been cautious about China reverse engineering these as well. China was particularly interested in the Su-35’s engine for their J-11Ds. Naturally with so many variants present, anyone would be confused and wonder how to actually distinguish between these variants: so here’s a neat little diagram to help!

The PLAAF’s backbone

The J-11Bs along with J-16s, will form the backbone of PLAAF over the next decades, with other Flanker variants continuing to support them in coming times. It is the PLAAF’s own confidence with the Flanker family that would decide upon their numbers and deployment even as the Chinese industry is developing next generation fighters, the J-20 and J-31, whose eventual capabilities will certainly have been based on their experience with the Flanker.

A chart making things easier to understand