C_A_M_2015_05_

concerning a possible arms package were

initiated in 1990, followed by high-level

demonstrations of the MiG-29 and the Su-27

in Beijing during March 1991. The Su-27SK

was chosen to become the PLAAF’s fi rst

modern air-superiority fi ghter. A contract

was signed in 1991 and was complemented

by two additional orders in 1996 and 2000.

Included was a $1.2-billion contract for

Shenyang to license-build 200 Su-27SKs

under the Chinese designation J-11. Around

95 kits had been delivered from KnAAPO by

2004.

In the meantime, concerns about the

avionics fi t in particular led to China’s

cancellation of the acquisition of the full

200 Su-27 kits in 2000. Instead, production

shifted to an upgraded indigenous version

after about the 100th J-11.

There followed a bitter dispute between

Shenyang and the original Russian designers

over the legality of the decision. Was the

resulting J-11B an unlicensed copy, or simply

an indigenous update containing Chinese

avionics and other systems already paid for

but without using the original Russian parts?

In parallel to development of the J-11B,

the J-11 received an avionics upgrade that

resulted in the J-11A. This variant made its

maiden fl ight in December 1999. Around

105 modernized J-11As had been produced

by the end of 2006. Seven front-line PLAAF

units now operate this version.

The J-11B, meanwhile, was an altogether

more ambitious program. This involved

improved avionics — above all, a new

Chinese multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar

known as the Type 1474 or 1478/KLJ-4

and an updated ‘glass’ cockpit — and the

standard AL-31F engine was to be replaced

by the WS-10A ‘Taihang’. However, as so

often before, development was delayed by

technical problems. Although the Chinese

government acknowledged the J-11B’s

existence in May 2007, the fi rst production

batch had to use AL-31F engines. These fi rst

J-11Bs are concentrated in one Air Regiment

and one trials unit. Nearly two years later

the problems were solved. Aircraft from the

second production block onwards returned

to using the WS-10A. By late 2014 three

more Air Regiments

were operational.

The PLANAF has

The J-11BS is

Shenyang’s reverse-

engineered two-seat

version based on the

Russian Su-27UBK.

This J-15 is seen

during trials of a

new buddy in- ight

refueling pod.

58

52-61 Chinese Fighters C.indd 58 20/03/2015 11:18