FIGHTER FOCUS // CHINESE ‘FLANKERS’
The ‘Flanker’ family is arguably the most important warplane type in People’s Liberation Army Air Force service. Combat Aircraft begins a two-part study of its complex evolutions.
THE FIGHTER VARIANTS
FOR MANY YEARS the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) lacked a truly modern fourth-generation ‘high-end’ fighter. However, following the cancellation of the Peace Pearl treaty with the US in mid-1989, the then Soviet Union was quick to step in and replace the west as China’s number one arms supplier. What began as the Sukhoi Su-27’s first export success evolved via a license-manufacturing agreement into a whole new family of Chinese ‘Flankers’.
Su-27/Jian-11/-11A (J-11/-11A)
In 1990, China began negotiations with a view to securing a possible Soviet arms package that would succeed the many planned programs with western companies, which had come to an abrupt end with the protests at Tiananmen Square. These were followed by demonstrations to high-ranking officials of both the MiG-29 and Su-27 in Beijing during March 1991.
After intensive evaluations of both types, China decided to order 20 single-seat Su-27SKs and six Su-27UBK two-seat conversion trainers in the sum…
