Posted on 03/07/2013 12:08:57 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
China fighter designer compares J-15 to F/A-18 Hornet
The chief designer of the Shenyang J-15 fighter has compared the aircraft to the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, and suggests that the developmental J-31 could one day serve aboard Chinese aircraft carriers.
In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Chinese aircraft designer Sun Cong said that the J-15 is "generally close to the US F/A-18, reaching world class standards".
He adds that the J-15 could have a combat radius of over 1,000km (540nm) if powered by domestic engines. This comment could corroborate reports that the J-15s conducting flight tests aboard the aircraft carrier Liaoning are powered by Russia's Saturn AL-31F, and not the domestically produced Shenyang WS-10A.
For its part, in December 2012, the defence ministry said the J-15 is powered by the WS-10A. Industry observers, however, are dubious about this claim owing to Beijing's well-known struggles with jet engine technology.
In the interview, an abstract of which was published on China's defence ministry website, he said that developing the J-15 presented special challenges. Aside from a requirement to have equal "combat capability" to land-based aircraft, naval fighters must also have exceptional low speed performance for landing on a carrier deck.
In the version of the interview published on the People's Daily website, Sun said that he hoped the J-31 would become China's next carrier-borne fighter. This section of the interview was excluded from the version on the defence ministry's website.
Beijing's plans for the J-31 is unclear. It is uncertain whether it is designed as a competitor or complimentary type to the larger Chengdu J-20. A model resembling the J-31 was also shown in the AVIC hall during Airshow China in Zhuhai in November, which could suggest that Beijing seeks a foreign partner in the programme.
Looks a lot like a Mig-29.
Love the air superiority yellow.
Reminds me of Cato from the Pink Panther.
or su-27
The Chinese are the best copiers in the world. Notice their deck guys have similar colors to our Navy. Even the LSO’s are wearing white float coats!
Chinese domestic jet engine development helped by our dear freiends at GE bringing better things to life for the PRC.
LMAO!
I think it also funny that the the F-18 first rolled out of production in 1983...exactly 30 years ago.
-—— Notice their deck guys have similar colors to our Navy.——
See the video....... Notice the beautiful young women!!
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2013/02/201322071331210550.html
The J-15 is a reverse engineered Su-33 (naval Su-27).
Looks exactly like the SU-33. Not just looks like, it is a Chinese warm-over of the SU-33. Compare the picture of the J-15 and the one of the SU-33 that YoYo posted.
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