Chinese Flanker Family: J-11, J-16 ... Su-27SK/UBK, Su-30MKK

[Fsjal]

5th generation is the future. The ROI will be lower and lower if keep investing on 4th generation.

I don't disagree with stealth fighters being the mainstay fighters of the future no doubt, but there's no repercussion in further modernizing current 4.5th gen. fighters using 5th gen. technology, especially since China already has its J-20s in service. It's why I brought up F-15X, and since J-16 more or less uses the same avionics as J-11D then it's not particularly harmful to invest in producing a decent number of J-16s as well as J-10Cs. If we look at the current fighter fleet of the PLAAF today, there's still large numbers of J-7s in service along with smaller number of J-8IIs. It makes sense since replacing hundreds of older fighter jets with newer fighter jets takes a long period of time to do so, with 5th gen. stealth fighters they'll become more affordable by somewhere around the mid-21st century, possibly around 2050s which by then 4.5th gen. will become as obsolete as 3rd gen. is in present day while 6th gen. fighters would be roughly in service by that time frame.

The good thing about further modernizing 4.5th gen. fighters into the future is that you can piggyback them on the technology of stealth fighters by implementing 5th gen. avionics into current airframes.

 

[vi-va]

I am with you on J-20s are the future in this choice:

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/b...-j-20-stealth-fighter-or-j-11d-who-wins-55042

But I recall reading as newer technologies arise, they can be put on existing 4th gen fighters to make many of the 4th gen fighters relevant 10-20 years down the road.

Sure, why not. Every military upgrade existing assets to keep them relevant. but there are limits 4th gen can do.

In the next 20 years, 4th gen will retire. 5th, 6th are the future. like nobody use iphone 4.

 

[zectech]

Sure, why not. Every military upgrade existing assets to keep them relevant. but there are limits 4th gen can do.

In the next 20 years, 4th gen will retire. 5th, 6th are the future. like nobody use iphone 4.

By 2025, every fighter in production should be 5th gen. Serial production of 4th gen is no longer needed. Both J-31s and J-20Bs will be in full production producing dozens of each per year. J-11s and J-16s are no longer needed in production. But upgrades to current fleet of 4th gen with newer radars and avionics is still a worthy goal.

Somebody said here on PDF they are waiting for the technology to upgrade the J-10s.

 

[LKJ86]

J-11B and J-11BS

Via @空军记者 from Weixin

 

[LKJ86]

J-16

 

[LKJ86]

J-11BS

Via @wanquanfoto from Weibo

 

[Deino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1180506504878800896

 

[khanasifm]

Avic production t portfolio listing j-15 in videos on YouTube

This is first time j-11/15/16 are
Listed as avic product ? Not sure what it means

 

[LKJ86]

Avic production t portfolio listing j-15 in videos on YouTube

This is first time j-11/15/16 are
Listed as avic product ? Not sure what it means

Any problems?

 

[khanasifm]

Any problems?

I guess does it mean they will start offering for export j-11/15/16 as well ??

 

[LKJ86]

I guess does it mean they will start offering for export j-11/15/16 as well ??

Is there any relationship between them?

 

[LKJ86]

J-11B

 

[LKJ86]

J-11BS

 

[jupiter2007]

J-11BS
View attachment 583229 View attachment 583230

I guess does it mean they will start offering for export j-11/15/16 as well ??

Which one is the most advanced between J-11/J-15/J-16 and might be available for export?

 

[Deino]

Which one is the most advanced between J-11/J-15/J-16 and might be available for export?

IMO clearly the J-16 (since there are no news concerning the J-11D's fate) and for export? None.