FIGHTER FOCUS // CHINESE ‘FLANKERS
Concluding a two-part study of the Chinese ‘Flanker’ family, we assess the Su-30 multi-role fighters and the indigenous J-16, as well as the carrier-based J-15 Flying Shark.
THE REQUIREMENT FOR multi-role performance was the driving factor behind China’s efforts to develop an indigenous ‘Flanker’ version.
The JH-7, with its long and troubled development, was always in danger of failing to fulfil its promise of becoming a true multi-role fighter-bomber suitable for both the air force and navy.
Since it became apparent to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) that the basic Su-27 would only be able to perform secondary attack missions with ‘dumb’ munitions, the service began looking for an alternative design.
Su-30MKK/Su-30MK2
A solution was found with the purchase of the multi-role Su-30MK. Negotiations, which began during 1996, resulted in an initial order for 38 Su-30MKKs in late 1999 at a cost of $1.85 billion.
This PLAAF-tailored version has some differences compared with the Indian Su-30MKI, for example, notably the lack of canards or thrust-vectoring AL-31FP engines. The MKI’s N011M phased-array radar is replaced with an uprated N001VE capable of guiding th…
