Stealth ship. China is reportedly testing an extemely advanced cloaking system. In the image below there is supposed to be a Type 052D destroyer, but all I see is…….ummmm :dev2::dev2::dev2:

Some J-20 pics:

TVC is great tool, but hardly as much of a game changer as modern sensors and all-aspect IR missiles.

If they were so interested in TVC alone, they could have bought a larger batch of 117S with TVC and still saved money on the purchase overall. Probably could have integrated them into one of the Flanker rip-offs they domestically produce.

More likely they are interested in the combination of TVC, wing mounted AESA IFF (assuming they got it), the excellent mechanical + electronic scan ability of the Irbis, the OLS-35 (compared to the generation older sets they have on their Su-27s and 30s).
Plus they got wing-jammers by the look of it, though how it stacks up to the domestic L-265M is anyone’s guess.

I also don’t buy the purely aggressor training argument, but time will tell what the PLAAF does with its new premier fighters.

No it is not just so for aggressors and training. If the J-11D gets delayed even further or is not up to what the PLAAF wants, they likely need to buy more Su-35. Lots more.

When it comes exporting engines of AL-31 variations, Russia is not going sell any engine that might end-up in locally built flanker variants like J-11B. All Saturn engines sold are for existing flankers with contractual obligations. All other AL-31 variants are by Salut and are exclusive for Chengdu. And I should have been clearer it is not just about the TVC mechanism. China has been ground testing TVC since the 80s and 90s. Key thing about the Su-35 is the integration of the TVC with the FBW. Russians have been exporting TVC integrated fighters since the Su-30MKI. Russia has very mature TVC integration that China does not have. The other key things about the Su-35 for China is is the elimination of the airbrakes and canards. All J-11B variants use those giant airbrakes. Shenyang needs to know how to do that with the J-11B variants. Supercruise of the 117C might also be a plus but we don’t know how well it supercruises with actual weapons attached. Regarding the avionics, I don’t see how that is much of an attraction. J-10C and J-16 already have some components of the J-20.

So China’s potential adversaries have been flying TVC ebabled fighters for more than 10 years and that means they had at least 10 years to build the relevant tactics. China needs to adapt quickly. Su-35 is an excellent choice for this. From early rumors, China only wanted a handful for “testing purposes” but Russian were like “Full deal or no Deal”.

I am surprised they did not give it the standard all grey paint.

how long will it be before we see some new J-xx variant that is a copy of the su-35?

Aggressor squadrons in the PLAAF have such paint scheme. Previously Su-30MKK had similar patterns but different colors – image.

So it is likely these Su-35 are there to give PLAAF pilots of J-10, J-11, J-20 a good torture test. Su-35 will prove vital for the PLAAF developing new tactics especially using TVC. This is the 1st time a TVC enable fighter is in service with the PLAAF.

I think CAC and other Chinese companies would be happy to sell dumbed down versions of the J-10, but PRC Gov has to clear them for export.

The other thing is the price and the market they are targetting. FC-1/JF-17 literally has no competition at that price point for brand new A/C (Only exception maybe Korean T-50/A-50). To get something cheaper you have go for 2nd-hand A/C or J-7 variants. But an export J-10 will be pricier (probabaly significatly pricier) and will have to compete with MiG-35, F-16, Gripen etc. J-10 still uses AL-31FN and the Russians migh not want to clear them for export for a 3rd-party that will be in competition with MiG-29/MiG-35. Off-course the WS-10 has been going through many breakthroughs so this should change but we have to wait and see.

Plus, PRC is exporting more and more sohphisticate equipment. Saudi Arabia is getting Wing-Loong II UCAV. Thailand recently bought VT-4 tanks which probably better than any tank in the PLA with the exception of the Type-99 variants. Thailand also bought SSK that are a variant of the PLAN Yuan class. I think Pakistan will also get some.

Cloud Shadow UAV

Since things have gone colossally off-topic, here are more pics of J-20 #2021 with WS-10X and an indication that #2022 had flown december last year.

Well, in BVR, the latest Chinese Flanker-derivatives are superior. Both the J-16 and J-11D run AESA, good enough for around 450 km detection vs 0 dBsm, although it might be lower in the former case as the figures are for the J-11D’s AESA. Irbis-E, by comparison, boasts 400 km range vs 4.8 dBsm, or the equivalent of 300 km range vs 0 dBsm. The Chinese also have their new PL-15 missiles (the PL-12 derivative, not the interceptor missiles) which should be able to outrange R-77 by 40-90 km.

Where did this come from?

Irbis-E at full power can reach 400 km for a 3m^2 target. But that’ll probably set-off EW systems all over the place. Where did you get the 450 km detection range for the J-11 and J-16 AESA? J-16 AESA may have upto 1760 T/R modules but what are the ranges and other specs?