PL-12 appears operational but limited to the J-10 and J-8F units (or J-8Ds converted to J-8F standards). The J-8F pictured earlier in the thread appears to have a pylon long enough to hold one.

And what’s Your opinion on the J-8 posted in post #935 …. Huitong’s page has just been updated as a possible J-8IIR:

Cheers, Deino 😀

I won’t call it a new recon version just because you added a pod. Just because a J-8H or J-8F can multirole with a recon pod does not necessarily make it a new version.

Xinhui called the J-8IIs on the magazine cover as J-8Fs. I don’t think so. These planes still have the single wing fences but do have the tails of the J-8D. These planes are J-8D airframes with the new grey paint jobs, but we don’t know if there are any modifications done to their systems that might bring them up to the J-8F level of capability, like using the PL-12, updated radar, cockpit and other avionics.

The photos of the J-8As are also new. It does show that the type, while old, is still in service and in remarkably good condition. This is surprising considering the type had many problems early in its career. Whatever they did, the J-8A has been honed into a robust and reliable plane apparently.

A change in paint job might suggest that the J-8II has been modified internally. I noticed that operational fighters in the PLAAF don’t just get a paint job for the sake of it. In fact, many old fighters are clean but still in their original white color, as you can see with the J-8As. In order to save money, all upgrades, major maintenance work, overhauls, parts replacement, repainting are all done in one time and in one package. The J-8IIs in the cover appear to have gone into the shop recently and came out spanking new.

Offboresight is not as important as flare resistance. Does the R-73 use a cryogenically cooled multi element, multi-spectral seeker? I don’t know. I heard reports that the R-73 is easy to decoy but that may be early production. Products do improve batch by batch, as improvements are incorporated into later production. In June 2006, there is said to be an upgrade that will be made available to existing R-73 users.

Two brothers in arms …. 😉

Interesting to see. You can see the tail of the J-10 is a lot smoother, no rivets, appears to be made from fewer pieces. I guess this is from composite construction.

Google Earth just completed a serious update of their data. There is a TON of new high-resolution imagery in there. I’ve already seen the Kuznetsov, Varyag, Minsk, J-10s, Dingxin, a KJ-2000, the Y-8 Balance Beam, more S-300P sites…..looks like I found how I’m going to waste this weekend 😀

I found an AWACS along with KC-135s and P-3s in OKinawa, Kadena AFB. You can see a bunch of F-18s and a B-1B in Anderson AFB, Guam.

If you check Dalian where the Varyag is, you will also find the DDG 115 and 116 destroyers where you can see the S-300 silos on the ships. Two in the front, and four in the back.

In Wuhu, Anhui, China, you will see the Su-30MKKs and a bunch of J-7s.

I take It this is the plane you are refering to Crobato…

Wasn’t this plane rumoured to be some sort of battlefield survailence aircraft in the same mould as the E-8 JSTARS?

It is not a JSTARs type of aircraft, more like ELINT, a spy plane, meant to intercept and read signals from radar stations, ships, or other aircraft like AEW aircraft of other countries. Yes. I think it may be used to survey and track the KJ AWACS, gathering data, monitoring its datalinks and signals. I kind of think that these planes—filled with technicians—are used to follow and monitor the AWACS.

Hmm, I just remembered something.

The crash site is not far from Wuhu AFB in Anhui province. Actually quite near. I wonder how many people here have good recollection of the Su-30MKK and J-10 photos that had all sort of armaments displayed on the floor, R-77s, Kh-59s, KABs on the like. Wuhu is the base where the 3rd Division is located, and it has an Su-30MKK regiment along with a J-10 regiment on the making.

Take a look at this pic of the 3rd Division Su-30MKK which is probably taken in Wuhu. Not the plane itself. The other plane on the back.

That is a Tu-154, and it is a spy plane disguised as a civil airliner. This plane as it appears on this picture, is in Wuhu, Anhui

If its an IL-76 crash, then it’s an IL-76 crash, not a Y-8 crash.

I honestly do not know why there are 40 people. That’s a little too much for even an AEW plane. The equipment would have filled the plane and you have less seats on the plane.

I am starting to think this is just a plain Y-8 transport carrying military personnel that is off duty, technicians, eingineers and their families. I think these are related to the Y-8 AEW program itself, but the plane that crashed isn’t the Y-8 AEW itself, but ironically, just a plain Y-8 carrying said personnel related to the AEW project.