sources?

no offical one. just more forums speculation

Why not? Works for Russia 😀

cost!. china is still not a rich country even with almost US $1 trillon in forex!. the PLAN vision for the flanker is to provide the fleets air denfence and the JH-7A and maybe the twin engine J-10 to attack ship’s and ground targets. the spec for the JH-7A is probaly the same as the SU-24 fencers with less powerful [max only 27,000 takeoff weigth] engine and mondern avonics.

JH-7A
SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: Two (1 pilot and 1 weapon operator)
Wingspan: 12.8m
Length: 21.00m
Height: 6.22m
Maximum take-off weight: 27,500kg
Internal fuel: 6,540kg
Drop tanks: One 1,000kg + two 600kg; or three 1,000kg
Maximum speed: Mach 1.69 (at 11,000m)
Service ceiling: 16,000m
Range: Ferry range 3,650km, combat radius 1,650km

The PLAN is not going eqid a carriers with just flankers!.plane will be carry SU-27XX,JH-7XX and J-10XX. about 20+ totals.

maintenance cost has to be factor in.not just plane unit cost how much it’s really going to cost to flies the jet the for 1 hour $50,000,$10,000,$1,000 a hour?.

where your going carry bombs ? everything is stored internally inside the craft fuel and missiles this a pure fighters you can gets. strange they called f-117 a fighter what against a camel snoop? {famous WW 1 bi-plane fighters}

highter the engine thurst shorter the life cycles GE-110-129 liked russkie engine mainly al-31f very high output lousy service life cycle better buy alot of spare’s

It also depends on the no. of bogeys..In a dogfight a 2 on 4 enviroment no longer favours the raptor and we know that in a multi bogey furball when the fog lifts the aircaft on top are not necc. the better ones but the ones who’s pilots have done the right thing and have had luck on their side aswell
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NOTE- this was mentioned insimhq board and caught my attention – If this was such a serious DACT fight then why didnt the raptor upon this situation bank hard to avoid a missile shot or guns..Wouldnt it be logical enough to do so provided yur adversary is in such a good position..If he had banked we would be seeing serious vapour contrails but we dont..!! Also in these simulated engagements does the MISSILE LOCKED indication appear on the HUD??

the heavy cloud formation may have help the super hornets and cut the range of the radar of the raptors probaly neithers one could really see each other at long range on radar because of the cloud liked I say before moisture badly degrade and cut the range of radar’s radiowave the hornet was at the right position and time even with just the 20mm cannon kill. just plain luck with this super hornet…