New Chinese J-11 fighters are being produced for PLANAF

A British magazine said on Monday that new Chinese single- and twin-seat J-11 fighters are probably being produced for the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF).According to Jane's Defence Weekly, some pictures posted this month on Chinese military websites showed J-11s outside the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation factory.

The J-11s are in a very light grey livery consistent with the PLANAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKK2 fighters, 24 (one regiment) of which were delivered in 2004, Jane’s said.The single-seat fighters, a new variant of the J-11B and designated as J-11BH, are the modified version of Sukhoi's Su-27SK. A version of the twin-seat J-11BS, which will reportedly be called J-11BSH in PLANAF service, can also be seen in these pictures, the magazine added.

Russia had expressed dissatisfaction on China’s "appropriation" of Sukhoi's design, and Moscow also expressed doubt about whether China could copy the Su-27SK or go on to produce improved versions.

The J-11B has a slightly lighter airframe than the Russian original, and there is speculation that the J-11B is possibly made by greater use of composites, and new Chinese-designed radar..........................Read More

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