Maybe the -25s were destroyed by anti-tank rocket, or mortar, or something similar.

So, the Ivory Coastians are now saying that it was a mistake, that they accidentally bombed the French?

How many total aircraft are in their air force?

Bump, for a good topic! I’d like to know more too.

Wow, guys, let’s calm down here.

Now, it seems that China has not cancelled their licensed production, or is it all a coverup?

China not Abandoning Continuation of Su-27SK Licensed Production
China is not abandoning continuation of Su-27SK licensed production, the Sukhoy OKB general designer, Aleksey Knyshev, declared to an ARMS-TASS special correspondent at the Airshow China-2004 air salon, commenting on reports which had appeared on this subject in a number Russian media.

According to him, the other day he had taken part in a regular working round of discussions with the Chinese side on the topic.

As is known, assembly of the SU-27SK under license is under way at the aircraft plant in Shengyang at a production rate of 15 aircraft per year. In all, the assembly of 200 Su-27SK airplanes is provided for. As of now, KnAAPO has delivered 105 airplane kits according to the first stage of the contract. The contract still had not been signed for the second stage of the program, which provides for the delivery of another 95 airplane kits.

In the opinion of experts, some pause in the continuation of the licensed production of the Su-27SK is explained by two reasons. On the one hand, it is connected with averting the formation of too large a storage stock of spare parts. There are enough of those airplane kits which were delivered in the first stage of the contract considering the rate of production at the plant in Shengyang for another 2 ? years. As of now, 60 Su-27SK aircraft, which were assembled in accordance with the licensing agreement, have been transferred for service in the People’s Liberation Army of China’s air force.

Secondly, it has not been ruled out that the Chinese partners are examining an offer of the Russian side about the delivery of the remaining airplane kits not in the technical form which had been determined by the licensing agreement, but in the upgraded Su-27SKM variant. This airplane exceeds the capabilities of the Su-27SK, which is produced under license in Shengyang, in combat capabilities by 50 percent. In the event of China’s selection of the second variant, the receipt of corresponding decision documents and the conclusion of an inter-governmental agreement are needed which takes definite time.

In any case, according to the opinion of Russian specialists, licensed assembly will be continued. And the variant of selection of the technical aspect of the airplane is the customer’s jurisdiction.

Source: 04.11.04, Voenno-Promyshlennyy Kur’er

motherlode of articles

Please don’t post elsewhere, thanks.

Date Posted: 04-Nov-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – NOVEMBER 10, 2004

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China debuts L-15 trainer mock-up
ROBERT KARNIOL JDW Asia-Pacific Editor
Zhuhai

China’s Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) displayed a full-size mock-up of its L-15 advanced jet trainer/light attack jet at China Air Show 2004, held in Zhuhai on 1-7 November. The company said it is due to enter serial production in 2007.

The L-15 was first revealed as a feasibility study in 2001 and a model of the aircraft was shown at China Air Show 2002.

Technical specifications revealed by HAIG are different from provisional data obtained earlier. These include a length of 12.27 m and a wing span of 9.48 m, compared with estimates of 15 m and 11 m respectively, with the mock-up extending 4.8 m in height.

The company said that normal take-off weight is 6,800 kg and maximum take-off weight is 9,800 kg, with each figure 300 kg greater than initially estimated. Maximum flying range is given at 3,100 km at a maximum level speed of M1.4.

The L-15 will have a life of 10,000 flying hours or 30 years, a company spokesman told JDW
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Date Posted: 04-Nov-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – NOVEMBER 10, 2004

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China markets improved Red Arrow 9 missile
CHRISTOPHER F FOSS
JDW Land Forces Editor
London

China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) is marketing an enhanced pedestal-mounted version of its Red Arrow long-range anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) system designated the Red Arrow 9A.

It was first revealed in 2002 when NORINCO released an artist’s impression of a new pedestal-mounted version of a Red Arrow 9 installed on a US AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle chassis.

It has now been tested and installed on an Italian Iveco 40.WM 4 x 4 1,500 kg cross-country chassis. This is manufactured in China as the Nanjing NJ2046 High Mobility Vehicle by the Nanjing Iveco Motor Corporation: a joint venture between the Nanjing Motor Corporation and Iveco of Italy.

The Red Arrow 9A uses a new millimetre-wave semi-active command-to-line of sight (SACLOS) guidance system. Mounted on the left side of the pedestal is the optical tracker with the dish-type millimetre- wave command link being mounted forward and below. The complete system – the 4 x 4 cross-country vehicle, the launcher and reserve missile – weighs 2,800 kg. If necessary, the tripod-mounted system can be dismounted for deployment away from the vehicle.

According to NORINCO, the Red Arrow 9A missile uses an optical tracker and millimetre-wave command link to provide flight course corrections. A gunner detects and tracks a target using the day/night sighting system that establishes the line of sight from the launch platform to the target.

Once the missile has been launched, the angular deviation between the missile and the line of sight is measured by a TV goniometer. Corrective commands are encoded and transmitted to the missile’s flight control unit.

This sends information to the four control fins that manoeuvre the missile until it hits the target.

The thermal sight, when fitted, enables targets to be detected at a range of over 4,000 m and engaged at 3,000 m.

The maximum range of the missile is 5,000 m. It is fitted with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank warhead to defeat targets fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA). According to NORINCO this will penetrate 320 mm of conventional steel armour at an angle of 68º protected by ERA. The missile has a diameter of 152 mm and weighs 37 kg in its tube.

China has recently started marketing new types of warheads, including thermobaric ones, for its guided and unguided anti-tank weapons. It is considered probable that a thermobaric warhead will be offered for the Red Arrow 9 in the future.

When compared to earlier generation Red Arrow 9 systems, the new pedestal-mounted system is lighter and better suited to rapid deployment forces.

Its advanced millimetre-wave guidance system also offers a number of operational advantages and is claimed to be difficult to jam.

The baseline Red Arrow 9 ATGW has been in service with the People’s Liberation Army for some time, installed on a 4 x 4 version of the WZ 551 6 x 6 series armoured personnel carrier.

This vehicle has a roof-mounted pod with four missiles in the ready-to-launch position. These are positioned either side of the day/thermal sighting device. Once the missiles have been launched, new missiles are loaded automatically from under armour with another eight carried in the hull.
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Date Posted: 04-Nov-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – NOVEMBER 10, 2004

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Beijing displays new tactical surface-to-surface system
ROBERT KARNIOL JDW Asia-Pacific Editor
Zhuhai

The China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp’s Second Academy unveiled a new tactical short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile weapon system under the designation B611 at this month’s Zhuhai air show.

Officials told JDW that the B6 missile at the system’s core has been in production for several years but the twin-round six-wheel transporter-erector-launcher (TEL), weighing 24 tonnes, was completed only in 2003.

The system is aimed at both domestic and export markets, with indications that it is in production for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The B611 system comprises a TEL vehicle together with one command and control vehicle and one set of “support equipment”. The B6 missile has a stated range of 80 km to 150 km, with a high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead weighing 480 kg.

Each command and control vehicle is normally linked to six twin-round TELs, according to company sources.

It is unclear whether additional types of warheads are in development, although officials acknowledged these would be useful given PLA requirements. They also said the missile can be manoeuvred in flight, accepting parallels to the Russian SS-X-26 ‘Stone’ (9M72 Iskander-E) short-range ballistic missile.

The system’s circular error of probability is given as less than 150 m, with a firing preparation time of under 25 minutes and a withdrawal time of under five minutes. An earlier prototype of the TEL featured a single missile in place of the twin-round system ultimately adopted.
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Also, an article talks about the display of a new WIG aircraft, but there’s nothing new.

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Why don’t you run 3d Mark 03?

It’ll be awfully hard to play with a glide pad… 🙂

What are these sub-based state-of-the-art sensors that do not rely on sound?

They use the Smell-O-Scope 3000. 🙂

Hmmm………upgraded J-8IIs……….
New RADAR?
And…. 😀

Note the new one piece windshield on that F-8IIM model. I wonder what the domestic equivalent will be?