How many Su-24 do they have and how many will be upgraded ?

Hard to say, anywhere from 350-550 in active service, of all types. 40 Su-M2 have been upgraded by Sukhoi, and up to a dozen airframes by Gefest&T.

Not really. I have repeatedly stated that there are advantages the Su-33 airframe has over the MiG-29K, as well as their being advantages to China using an airframe so similar to something that have experience with.

What irks me is the great lengths people go to, and elaborate OTs involved, to try to downplay the clear as day fact, that I am not going to repeat once again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LgeX7cd5-XM#!

Cool vid. Su-24 training. Nice takeoff with full burners, and buddy-buddy refueling.

Just forget it guys, the party pays well these days to post long long attempted explanations to try to avoid the basic reality.

If China came at this with such a fresh angle, and the project involved sooo much indigenous engineering prowess that the Su-33 offered barely any help, why not navalize one of the domesticated J-11Bs? But instead, they acquired a Su-33, and the J-15 magically looks almost identical. Hmmm….

When are second hand A380s expected to be available?

I am not too familiar with airline airplane cycles.

Somehow I suspect making the entire process in house would be economically stupid.

PLAN went to Russia to negotiate a Su-33 buy with technical brief for domestic production line. Russia refused (or can not agree to a term).
your #1 export customer wants to ensure stability and security of their supply chain. you can not garantee that.
what do you expect happen in case of a customer with other options….it will pursue other options.

Rookh’s post above may shed some insight into this question too.

….

I think Russian Aerospace companies and PLA Staff both need to change their mind set.
If Russia were to become a stable supplier and fully involved in chinese domestic arms acquisition chain, it must shown reliability.
something close to how Nato internally procure amongst its allies.

Wow, more justifications for theft of the design. Absurd.

You are totally right, Russia should just expect China to steal the design if it is not willing to export it. Totally cool.

China wanted several Su-33s for obvious reasons. Russia was completely in its right to deny a token purchase intended to copy a design.