All the KLJ or Type 14XX series are from the same institute, NRIET or Lab No. 14. The same institute is responsible for the radars used on the KJ-2000 AWACS and the 052C destroyer both of which allegedly claim to be AESAs. They also made the active array scanning SLC-2 artillery spotting radar. That’s not an easy job for a radar, because that means detecting and tracking an object with a cross section the size of an artillery shell. This means they have the experience to do a phase array and quite possibly an AESA radar if they are given the green light.

As far as I know the Chinese fighter radars have much of the same basic modes like most other Western radars.

Extended Range
Range while Search
Velocity Search
Track While Scan
Track While Scan (engaging for ARH)
Single Target Tracking (for SARH)
Boresight mode (dogfight mode for SRAMs)
Vertical Band (dogfight mode for SRAMs)
Gun Ranging (dogfight mode for cannon)
Bomb sight (for dropping bombs)
Moving Target Indicator
SAR
Sea Search

I forgot to add ground ranging, terrain mapping, doppler sharpening, and terrain avoidance (the JH-7A definitely has the latter). Again, bread and butter modes for today’s multimode radars.

What we cannot see are the mechanical qualities of the radar, how fast it can scan, the azimuth and the elevation. All this has a lot to do with the servo behind the antenna.

As for AESA on smaller fighter jets, its a tough call, due to the increased weights the power, space, and cooling requirements that may entail. IMO, it may be better to wait for next generation AESA using GaN that will reduce such requirements and skip the GaAs generation entirely.

The Chinese have stopped ordering a lot of Russian kit anymore. Their last and current orders are those of engines and IL-76 transports. The last arms related shipment was a battery of S-300 and Kilo submarines. None of whom were repeated ordered.

If you ask me, the Thales RC-400 probably does not offer any significant improvement over the KLJ-7 to merit its much higher prices. The MICA and the R-Darter, being small, dogfight sized missiles converted with radar guided seekers, don’t have the kinetic performance of a true medium sized AAM like the SD-10, which weighs more than the AMRAAM and R-77, quite suggestive that the missile has more propellant than the other two for a longer boost phase. The MICA and the R Darter only weighs 115kg to 120kg, while the SD-10 weighs at 180kg.

If I were to rate Chinese fighter radars in order, the criteria would be size, the bigger radar has the inherently superior angular resolution and a bigger plane can contain the transformers and generators used to power more powerful emitters. The second is modernity; the later the radar model is introduced, the more it would have advances in electronics and take advantage of design experience from previous designs.

1. J-11B (KLJ-4). Huge radar. Even it if its just a mechanical array, size helps. It can track 20 targets and engage as much as six of them in one time. It not only has sheer size behind it but also modernity, as being the last and most recent Chinese radar design to come into service.

2. J-10 (KLJ-3). This is the first of China’s second generation slotted array radars. It is quite new, newer than the Zhuks offered to China, and fairly large, larger than the F-16’s. The ones used in operational aircraft appear to have one major new revision over the prototype ones that include the capability to support the PL-12. 10 to 16 targets tracked, 4 targets engaged. Tracking range may be up to 100km, detection range may be up to 160km.

3. JF-17 (KLJ-7). This radar is actually newer than the J-10’s and may have some additional modernities to it. But at the same time, it’s also smaller with less emission power that’s why it merits a close third. The latest rendition of this radar is very compact, serves to illustrate the leap in electronic design between the first generation and second generation Chinese slotted array designs.

4. J-8F/H (Type 1492). This radar probably represents a major overhaul of the Type 1471 slotted array and now made capable of supporting the PL-12.

5. JH-7A (JL-10A). Its actually one of the older radar types and is among the first of the two first generation Chinese slotted arrays. The A2A performance is probably slightly inferior to the Type 1471 listed on the bottom, but its air to sea and air to ground search and target is likely to be superior, as well as the ability to support air to surface missiles. Which is why I put it ahead of the Type 1471, but barely. Tracking range around 70 to 80km, two targets engaged.

6. J-8D/F/H early (Type 1471 or KLJ-1). This radar is probably the first Chinese slotted array to enter service. All previous designs have been cassegrain or parabolic. It is a major revolution for the Chinese, and the first time they have a radar that approaches the early APG-66. It is a full multimode radar with air to air, air to sea, air to ground capabilities that include velocity search and moving target indication. It is capable of supporting SARH modes through the PL-11. Tracking distance is up to 75km, with 10 targets tracked, and 2 engaged. Currently offered in the new J-8IIM export version.

7. J-7G (KLJ-6E/F). This is a modern slotted array radar with only a basic set of features to make it extremely compact. This is what you call a baseline radar that appears more suited for dogfighting. The direct inspiration would be the BaE Super Skyrangers, the Grifo-7PG, and the “miniture” ELTA M 2032 variant for the F-5E and MiG-21 upgrades. KLJ-6F is the version that supports the PL-12 to actually give it BVR capability, but the PLAAF has not adopted this.

The sad thing is that if Japan really wanted a big-wing more strike capable F-16 derivative, they could of course have just put the F-16XL into service. Perhaps even add the drooped nose with the Hornet’s radar, as the USAF tested on one of the development F-16s. Even add in the thrust vectoring of the MATV, and combine all these features – it would probably still cost a lot less than the F-2!

It would still cost as much or more than the F-2. One reason for it is that the Japanese may still insist using their AESA radars, which are several times more expensive than slotted array types. Another is the usual payoff to politicians to get things done. Hence why there are many things in the Japanese armed forces that are the most expensive in the world; the T-90 tank is probably the most expensive in the world, and the Oyashio subs are like half a billion each for a non nuclear sub.

Very nice detail on the F-2 picture above, especially on the ASMs.

I suspect the LACMs on the mid and outer wing points are smaller due to the structural weight capability of the wing. If you want to hang bigger LACMs, you have to hang it in the inner wing and the center fuselage.

My opinion is that the “bigger” LACM is the DH-10 while the “smaller” LACMs are based on the YJ-62 or simply the YJ-62 AshM itself. With that large nose radar and FLIR/IRST, the plane is more than just a nuclear or LACM carrier, it may also have more tactical roles, including anti-shipping.

My theory is that the two bigger engines might also added more weight on the tail that may necessitate more needed stability. They probably decided not to use or add a single or twin ventral fins.

I keep telling you how many countries out there actually have digital real time monitoring systems for their exercises. To put it simply what the PLA general is saying is false modesty. This is a common cultural trait where people are actually so confident of what they have, they actually put themselves down.

To put it simply to you, from all observable evidence that China have closed seriously closed the gap with the West when it comes to avionics.

For example, in only three years after the Phalcon deal was dropped, China was already flying a prototype of their own version. Today as many as 8 of these planes now exists. Lets put this way, how many AEW aircraft around the world uses some electronic beam steering in active use, and the list narrows to Sweden (Erieye) and Israel (Phalcon), both of whom the Chinese have some conceptual copy of that are now flying the air in either operational use or late development stage.

If you don’t think China is holding back, ask China why the phase array KJ-200 or the KJ-2000s are not being offered for Pakistan, and instead you have this Y-8 with a mechanical rotodome, a type that is not in service with the PLAAF.

The current standard for Chinese fighter radars is this—slotted planar array; multimode with RWS, VS, TWS, dogfight modes, multiple target engagement, active radar homing missile support, PGM support through TV and laser guidance, FLIR channels. Ground modes include MTI/GMTI. Helmet sighting systems are optional. AshM support optional, e.g. JH-7A.

You can find the same technology level for slotted array radars and cockpit avionics around the world, except for the AESA ones that is one generation ahead. In fact what I described to you is the current technological average even in the West. The only things that would be more advanced would be phase arrays and AESA.

Now ask yourself if the F-7PG you have uses HMS, because the current Chinese J-7G does.

Going back to the F-8IIM, its using the Type 1471 radar that was introduced in 2001 and first tested in 1995. The current J-8F uses the Type 1492 radar (not for export) and features stuff like HMS.