The purchase of foreign equipment has pushed the development of aviation in China
"The local industry has reached such a level that China no longer needs to buy Russian aircraft," experts in Beijing believe. At the same time, they do not question the fact that aviation imports have significantly affected the military-industrial complex of the People's Republic of China.
Pilots of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatics group on F-16 light fighters in 1986 showed their professional skills to the Chinese public. Then Washington was counting on a major contract with Beijing for the supply of this type of aircraft. However, during the negotiations, the American side put forward conditions for monitoring the maintenance, the volume of supply of spare parts and aircraft weapons (ASP). In short, even then the Pentagon was aware of the danger of illegal copying by the Chinese of American high-tech samples. But this did not prevent the parties from coming to an agreement. However, according to the Peace Perl program, not F-16 aircraft were delivered, but only AN/APG-66 radars to them (they were mounted on Chinese F-8 interceptors). After the events in Tiananmen Square (1989), Western countries imposed tough sanctions on Beijing. In fact, the supply of military equipment was banned and restrictions were imposed on the transfer of dual-use technologies. In fact, this meant the severance of military-technical ties between the United States and China. Therefore, in 1990, Beijing asked Moscow to supply 20 Su-27SK fighters and four Su-27UBK combat training aircraft.
After negotiations, the Russian side in February 1991 sent a group of Su-27 fighters for demonstration flights at the Nanyuan military airfield (Beijing).
Initially, the Russian side suggested that the Chinese military consider the possibility of acquiring a batch of MiG-29 fighters, since earlier the defense complex of the People's Republic of China quite successfully copied the MiG-19 and MiG-21, and their operation in the PLA Air Force was characterized by a low accident rate. It was during the period of familiarization with the capabilities of the MiG Design Bureau that Chinese specialists acquired documentation for such a development as the Mig-33, which was then used in the creation of the Chinese JF-17 fighter.
THE FIRST DELIVERIES OF THE SU-27
The Chinese military then abandoned the proposed MiG-29 and focused on acquiring the Su-27. During 1992, the delivery of Su-27SK and Su-27UBK fighters was carried out. The aircraft of the first modification were assembled at the KNAAPO plant (Komsomolsk-on-Amur), and combat training vehicles in Irkutsk. The fighters independently flew from Russia to the airfield of the city of Wuhu, Anhui Province, the base of the 9th regiment of the 3rd Fighter Division of the PLA Air Force.
In 2002, a second contract worth $2.5 billion was signed for the supply of 76 Su-27 series fighters (36 SU-27SK aircraft and 40 Su-27UBK units). These aircraft allowed the PLA Air Force to decommission some of the Jian-8 fighters. China has entered the list of countries with heavy twin-engine fighters. The main opponent of the Su-27 of the PLA Air Force in the regional armed conflict is the F-15J interceptor fighter of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
The decommissioning of the Soviet/Russian-built Su-27 began in March 2009. Disassembly of aircraft for subsequent placement in the form of mock-ups in parts of the PLA Air Force was carried out at an enterprise in the city of Xi'an. Over 15 years of intensive operation, the aircraft have developed their flight life. The greatest wear was recorded in the Su-27UBK, which was used for retraining combat pilots and training young pilots.
CHINESE ESTIMATES
Analysts of Chinese airlines openly say that the second contract for the supply of Russian aircraft was too expensive, and even then it was necessary to purchase a production line for self-assembly of the Su-27 and work on its copying.
As a result of the negotiations, the Chinese side obtained the right to license the assembly of the Su-27 and contracted 200 assembly kits, including Al-31F engines, avionics and some samples of TSA. It is known that the tension in cooperation on the Su-27 was brought by the position of the Russian side, which refused to transfer the source code for the fire control system to the PRC. In response, the Chinese side reduced the number of short-range guided missiles (SD) acquired by the R-73 and medium-range R-27 to minimum values, since it compensated them at the expense of the Thunder-8B SD (a copy of the Israeli Python-3 missile).
In fact, the aircraft factory in the city of Shenyang (aircraft factory No. 112) purchased only 100 Su-27 aircraft kits for assembly. Thanks to them, it was possible to copy all the elements of the aircraft with the identification of problematic moments (insufficient airframe resource). According to Chinese sources, Russian aircraft manufacturers used aircraft kits and replacement spare parts unclaimed by the Chinese side for the construction of a series of Su-27SM3 fighters (a modification of the Su-27 with maximum capabilities). The Chinese side stopped purchasing components for the Su-27 unilaterally out of a desire to save money.
The work on copying the Su-27 received the cipher "project No. 11" and made it possible to reduce the 20-year lag from the defense industry of the Western world. The Chinese copy received the designation Jian-11A (J-11A) and differed from the Su-27 in the complex of avionics. In addition, the fuselage of the aircraft was strengthened in order to increase its flight life from 2 thousand to 5 thousand hours.
The PLA Air Force also required the replacement of on-board electronics and a radar station (radar). It is known that the Chinese military sent a group of Jian-11A to Thailand for exercises in 2015, and in competitive air battles, these aircraft lost to the lighter JAS-39 of the Thai Air Force with a score of 4:0. One of the main reasons is the short range of the Type 1474 airborne radar (UR launches at a range of no more than 85 km). The first Jian-11A entered service with the PLA Air Force in 2006.
THE ROLE AND CAPABILITIES OF THE CHINESE CLONE
Thai military intelligence agencies have attempted to familiarize themselves in detail with the components of the Jian-11A. The fighter was under the close attention of the special services of the United States and Canada, which attempted to establish the true capabilities of the Jian-11A. Foreign intelligence agencies were actively working with employees of research institutes and factories building the Jian-11 series of fighters, which includes such modifications as the Jian-11B, BS (VN, BSH for the PLA Navy), BG (a transitional model with an active phased array radar (AFAR) and a new electronic warfare system (EW)) and D (probably only for the PLA Navy: the color is blue-gray above and gray-white below).
Now most of the Jian-11A have exhausted their resource, and to maintain their airworthiness, specialists of the 112th aircraft factory have developed a complex for medium repair and modernization (with the replacement of the optical-location station from the 1st to the 2nd generation), which allows expanding the capabilities of aircraft to generation 3.5 and extending their service life until 2030 year. A similar procedure for the Jian-11B and 11D will extend their service life until 2040.
Taking into account the experience of operating the Su-27SK and UBK in the PLA Air Force in 2000, they put forward requirements to Shenyang aircraft manufacturers about the need to develop an improved version of the fighter, which was assigned the designation Jian-11B (J-11B). During its construction, Chinese designers use carbon fiber materials, which made it possible to reduce the weight of the aircraft by 700 (according to other sources, by 800) kg, as well as to reduce the effective dispersion area from 15 to 4 m2. 60% of the fuselage is made of new aluminum composite alloys. Part of the fuselage elements are made on three-dimensional laser printers. The maximum flight range of the Jian-11B is 4,360 km. Probably, Chinese designers were able to increase the life of the fuselage to 10 thousand hours.
The weight savings also made it possible to increase the cross-section of the cockpit (new multifunctional displays are placed) and the diameter of the radar seat. It is known that the Jian-11B is equipped with a type 1473 radar – it differs in the increased size of the antenna (the diameter of the emitter is 980 mm) from the radar installed on the Jian-10A (J-10A) light fighter. You can identify the aircraft by the beveled section of the radio-transparent fairing in black. During maintenance and repair of the radar, the fairing tilts up and provides better access to technicians in airfield conditions.
The digital data transmission and processing system on the Jian-11B meets the requirements of the 1553B standard. The PLA Air Force provided Russian pilots with a chance to familiarize themselves with the Jian-11B and received high marks.
The TSA nomenclature for the Jian-11B consists of UR Grom-8, -10, -12, -15, which allow hitting air targets at different ranges.
The difference between the Jian-11B is the tail boom of increased length (from 1 to 2 m), which houses an increased supply of heat traps, as well as a warning system about rocket fire from the rear hemisphere. Chinese designers can even place a radar with AFAR in the end of the tail boom, which will allow detecting enemy aircraft at a range of up to 30 km. The most successful variant of such a compact radar in China is considered the Russian "Spear-DL" (operates in the L-band).
EVALUATION OF THE STRATEGY
In addition, the Chinese are working on options for placing an auxiliary power plant (APU) in the tail boom – a copy from the Russian TA-14–130–35 . Chinese specialists are extremely interested in obtaining several samples of this APU and a complete set of documentation at the enterprises of the Defense Industry of the Russian Federation (NPP "Aerosil").
The option of placing the APU in the tail boom of the Jian-11 is being worked out in order to accommodate four air bases in Tibet, where there are not enough pre-launch heaters and covered hangars for aircraft.
To replace the Su-27 UBS at the airline in Shenyang (plant No. 112), the production of Jian-11BS was organized. The structure of the two-seat cabin was copied from the Russian Su-30MK2, since its design provides two crew members with excellent visibility.
The possibility of switching control between the pilot and the navigator-operator is guaranteed when injured in air combat. It should be noted that back in 2009, the Chinese defense industry rejected criticism of the Russian side for violating the license agreement on the Su-27 and indicated that they would not respond to claims if they were brought. The Jian-11B/BS fighters of the PLA Air Force and Jian-11BH/BSH MA of the PLA Navy are equipped with an all-course missile warning system.
The newest modification of the Jian-11 is a variant of the Jian-11BG (J-11BG). For the first time they took part in the exercise "Red Sword-2019" as part of the squadron. These aircraft can be identified by the white nose radio-transparent fairing under which the AFAR radar from the 607th Research Institute is installed. There is no aerial refueling system, since this aircraft will be delivered only to the PLA Air Force units.
Chinese designers were working on a modification of the Jian-11C (J-11C) – an inconspicuous version of the aircraft, but for various reasons (the limited capabilities of the classic fuselage of the Su-27 to reduce radar visibility), it was not embodied in metal.
THE DREAM OF AIR SUPREMACY
The newest modification of the single-seat fighter Jian-11 received the letter D (J-11D). According to the plan of Chinese designers and the military, this aircraft is designed to gain air superiority. It is designed to gradually replace the Su-27SK, Su-30MKK and MK2, as well as the Jian-11A in combat units by 2025.
In the future, the fighter brigades of the PLA Air Force, consisting of four squadrons each, will be armed with the Jian-20, Jian-16 and Jian-11D. In addition, Jian-11D fighters can be delivered to units that simulate the actions of a likely enemy.
Test flights of the first aircraft with the tail number 1101 began in April 2015 at the airfield of plant No. 112 (Shenyang). In 2017, three pre-production aircraft were spotted at Dingxin Air Base, where the 7th Flight Test Detachment of the PLA Air Force is stationed.
During the development of this fighter, about 80% of the design was redesigned, since Chinese aircraft manufacturers have seriously increased the share of composite materials – in the manufacture of wings, cockpit, tail. The service life of the fuselage is 10 thousand hours. Together, the designers managed to reduce the weight of the aircraft by 10% compared to the Jian-11B (by 300-400 kg).
By reducing the weight of the aircraft and increasing the total area of the tail, two external suspension points were additionally placed under the wings. In total, the Jian-11D has 12 external suspension points where it is possible to place an ASP with a total weight of 9 tons. The Jian-11D can strike air, ground and surface targets.
To replace the WS-10B engines, more powerful twin-circuit turbojet engines WS-10G (they are also WS-10IPE) are installed with thrust in cruising mode of 8900 kgf / cm2, and in afterburner mode of 14300 kgf / cm2. The total resource of the turbojet engine is 2 thousand hours, the first overhaul must be carried out after 900 hours of flight. The internal profile of the air intakes may vary depending on the operating mode of the engine.
The development of the power plant was carried out by specialists of the PLA Air Force Engineering Department, the Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China and the Institute of Aerospace Design of the PLA Air Force Engineering University. Their involvement is due to the need to ensure the cold start of the engine at airfields located at altitudes of 4000 m above sea level. There are seven such airfields on the territory of the Western Military District (altitude from 3448 to 4334 m), allowing to base at least 200 heavy fighters at a time. JIAN11D fighters are equipped with a retractable rod for refueling in the air.
Data transmission is provided by a high-speed digital communication system. The Jian-11D fighter is equipped with a new onboard electronic system of Chinese design, which includes a multicomponent navigation system consisting of a laser inertial module, a receiver of the Beidou global positioning system signal, a computer and a radio navigation complex. The set of equipment allows you to perform flights at ultra-long ranges and use high-precision adjustable weapons.
According to the calculations of Chinese experts, in order to maintain parity with the air Forces of foreign states, the PLA Air Force should receive at least 350 Jian-11D fighters. The total number of them should reach 1000, of which 70% are in a state of full combat readiness.
The main reason for the continuation of the production of the Jian-11 in new modifications is the program of the US Air Force to improve the F-15 and F / A-18. It is likely that in 2028, Chinese developers will offer the PLA Air Force a modification of the Jian-11Z (J-11Z).
The analysis shows that the Russian Federation has received less than $ 3 billion. from the broken contract for the Su-27. In general, the losses of the Russian side from the unscrupulous behavior of the Chinese side amount to about $ 20 billion. For comparison: the average cost of the Indian Air Force Su-30MKI is $ 70.3 million.
Vasily Ivanov
