Everyone knows the J-16 fighter, but few people know the J-11D in the J-11 series family at the same time as the J-16.
The J-11D is a fighterMore advanced than the J-16Hanging the United States' *** fighter F-15, can be called the domestic version of the Su-35
But such an excellent fighter,In the end, it was not delivered to the troopsWhat's going on here?
Aerial view of the J-11D fighter parked at the airfield.
The birth of the J-11 fighterInseparable from the introduction of the Su-27SK fighter by ChinaAt that time, our country first purchased 24 Su-27SK fighters from Russia.
Su-27SK fighter.
But only by introductionIt could not completely solve the dilemma that our country was facing at that time- Backward equipment across the board.
Therefore, after careful consideration, our country decidedIntroduced the Su-27SK fighter production line from Russiaand handed over to China's Shenfei Group for follow-up work.
With the efforts of Shenfei Group, in 1998, the first two assembled J-11s successfully made their first flight.
The J-11 at this time can be said to be a "copy" of the Su-27SK, all assembled using Russian-made components, but this is obviously not the result we wanted, so Shenfei GroupPreparations for the localization of the J-11 began again.
It took only a few years for the J-11B to complete its first flight, compared to the original J-11,The J-11B can be described as a completely new fighter.
J-11B It was reequippedA variety of avionics systems independently developed by ChinaIt has realized the leap from imported assembly to localization.
J-11B, the most critical of which belongsLocalization of flight control systems
However, the J-11B after delivery to the troopsFrequent failures, the problem is concentrated in the core parts such as the flight control system and the engine.
The manufacturer, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, spent another year gradually solving the problem, and finally the J-11B passed the design finalization in 2006 and began mass service.
After entering the 21st century,China attaches great importance to the strategic orientation of gaining air supremacy through information warfare, while at the same time,Active phased array radars are widely installed on fighters in Western countries.
In order to keep the J-11 series from lagging behind,China decided to develop a new multi-role fighter - J-11D on the basis of the J-11B.
In April 2015, the J-11D prototype made its first successful flightAs the most advanced model of the J-11 series, what is the goal of the development of the J-11D? What is its overall design philosophy? This requires us to delve into the details of this fighter.
(1) Avionics system upgrades
Compared to the J-11B, the J-11DThe biggest highlight is the comprehensive upgrade of the avionics system.
The most striking thing about the J-11D is that it was newly developedActive phased array radar with 2000 T R modulesThis radar operates in the X-band and is mounted at an angle to lower the radar cross-section.
In addition, the infrared search and tracking system has also been strengthened, and new photoelectric sensors have been addedIt has a stronger ability to counter infrared interference from enemy aircraft.
At the same time, the on-board electronic devices communicate with each other through a newly designed fiber-optic high-speed data busThe level of information fusion has been greatly improved.
(2) Power system optimization
In terms of powertrain, J-11DThe mature domestic Taihang-10 engine was usedThis is a high thrust-to-weight ratio and high thrust engineIt provides abundant power for the J-11D.
At the same time, a completely new digital flight control systemThe flexibility and maneuverability of the flight are greatly improved
(3) Pneumatic layout adjustment
In order to adapt to the installation needs of new types and equipment, the J-11D has also been slightly adjusted in the aerodynamic layout.
The wingtip pylons were changed from trapezoidal to slotted, for the mount of optoelectronic infrared hybrid guidance PL-10 over-the-horizon air-to-air missiles.
Two additional ** hardpoints are added under the bellyThe bomb load of the J-11D has been greatly increased.
How does such an excellent J-11D compare with our country's J-16, Russia's Su-35, and America's F-15?
(1) Similarities and differences with the J-16
The J-11D and J-16 were developed at a similar timeIt can be regarded as the culmination of China's first-class machine technology.
The biggest difference between the two is:The J-11D pays more attention to air combat superiority, whileThe J-16 emphasizes multi-purpose combat capabilities.
In terms of specific configuration, J-11D and J-16Both are equipped with AESA radar and a fiber-optic internal network.
But the J-11D's radar antenna has a larger caliber and a stronger output powerIt is beneficial for long-range anti-air search and target tracking.
The radar of the J-16 is limited due to size and weightThe output power will be lower.
If you compare the two,The J-11D's air combat performance is superior, while the J-16's multi-purpose performance is more comprehensive, the two can be said to complement each other, jointly improving the overall combat capability of the Chinese Air Force.
(2) Comparison with the Su-35
The Russian Su-35 fighter was also developed on the basis of the Su-27Its status is equivalent to the "ultimate flanker".
Then we might as well compare the Chinese J-11D with it, and we can find outThe J-11D has surpassed the Su-35 in all directions
In terms of radar, the J-11D adopts AESA and the Su-35 remains PESA, the detection range and anti-jamming ability J-11D are more dominant.
* Configuration,The J-11D's PL-15 missile has a range of 200 kilometers, far exceeding the Su-35's R-77This will give the J-11D a huge tactical advantage in long-range air combat.
Even in mobility, the traditional strength of the Su-35, the J-11D does not fall behind.
The digital flight control system works perfectly with the vector engineSo that the J-11D also gained super-maneuverable capabilities.
It can be said that the J-11D can be called the "ultimate version of the domestic flanker".Its overall combat capabilities are not inferior to and possibly surpass those of the Su-35.
(3) Comparison with American F-15 fighters
In terms of appearance,Both are similar in size and are large twin-engine, single-seat fighters.
But in the avionics system configuration,The J-11D uses a more advanced AESA phased array radar, which makes it superior in long-range search and tracking performance.
In terms of load, the J-11D can be mounted on China's self-developed onePL-15 medium-range air-to-air missile, and the F-15Still stuck at the level of AIM-120, which allows the J-11D to have a longer effective range.
American F-15
However, the F-15's maneuverability and high-altitude and high-speed performance are more advantageous due to the design of the airframeThis is an area that needs to be improved on the J-11D.
American F-15
Judging by the capabilities of electronic countermeasures,Both are constantly enhancing the performance of the related equipment.
But J-11DMore attention is paid to the low detectability of radar, which is good for conducting active electronic countermeasures.
And the F-15 is inPassive countermeasures systems such as jamming foils and thermal flares are more heavily invested
It is a pity that the J-11D has such excellent performanceIn the end, it was not put into serviceIt can only be reduced to a technical verification machine, its mass production and troop equipment plans were forced to terminate.
(1) The J-20 is developing rapidly
At the same time as the development of the J-11D,China's J-20 stealth fighter is also in full swing
As China's first type of fifth-generation aircraft,The performance and combat capabilities of the J-20 far exceed that of the J-11D.
The J-20 has a large use of stealth technology and advanced avionics design concepts, representing the development direction of future fighters.
J-20With the continuous improvement of the performance of the J-20 and the success of the test flight, this fifth-generation aircraft is gradually moving towards actual combatIn contrast, the nature of the technical reserve of the J-11D is becoming more and more obvious.
The J-20 Air Force is also more inclined to vigorously develop and deploy the J-20, rather than operating the old J-11 series and J-20 aircraft at the same time.
(2) The mass production situation of J-16
In addition to the J-20, another type of aircraft that has an impact on the J-11D is the J-16.
J-16 as a product of the same period of development, J-16The overall performance is not inferior to that of the J-11D, and even better in multi-purpose performance.
With the design finalization and successful test flight of the J-16, this two-seat multi-role fighter quickly entered the stage of mass production and troop installation.
A large number of equipment J-16 has greatly reduced the dependence of the Air Force on the J-11 series, and the production and deployment of the J-11D have not received enough attention.
(3) Changes in tactical requirements
In addition to the rapid development of new aircraft types, changes in the combat concepts and tactical needs of the Chinese Air Force themselves have also affected the J-11D.
In the new situation,The Air Force pays more attention to the multi-purpose performance of the aircraft, rather than specifically emphasizing air superiority like the J-11D.
At the same time, considering the cost of logistics support and use, the Air Force does not want to operate too many aircraft at the same time, and the emergence of the J-16 just meets this need.
So even if the performance is advanced,The J-11D will not escape the fate of being "abandoned".
Despite its eventual failure to enter service, many of the technical features and innovations of the J-11D,It still has important reference significance for the development of other fighter types in China.
a) J-11B improvement reference.
The J-11B is the most successful example of China's introduction of Su-27 technologyIt is also the cornerstone of the development of the J-11 series, on the basis of which the J-11D has accumulated a lot of technology, which provides valuable experience for the improvement of the J-11B in the future.
The design concepts of the J-11D, such as avionics system upgrades, engine optimization, and configuration adjustments, can be directly applied to the subsequent upgrade models of the J-11B, which will greatly improve the combat capability of the J-11B and extend its service life.
2) J-15 carrier-based aircraft for reference.
Compared with land-based aircraft, the Navy's carrier-based aircraft have higher requirements for performance and reliabilityThe J-15 is a carrier-based multi-role fighter independently developed by China.
Some results of the J-11DIt can also provide reference for the development of J-15.
For example, the optimization of the digital flight control system will improve the flight qualities of the J-15; Advanced radar and infrared search systems can also be installed on subsequent models of the J-15.
The J-15 landed on the Liaoning ship.
These applications will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the **-15,so that it can better carry out maritime strike missions.
3) The overall technical level has been improved.
We also need to note that the development and flight test of the J-11D is also an important improvement in the overall technical level of China's aviation industry.
Whether it's radar, engines, avionics, or airframes, materials, etcEvery aspect of the J-11D has accumulated valuable development and test data.
These technical experiences will promote the design and manufacture of other Chinese fighters and even civil aircraft, and it can be said that the J-11D has laid the foundation for the future development of China's aviation industryIts significance goes far beyond the model itself.
Despite the fact that the J-11D failed to enter service,But this does not represent the end of the development of the J-11 series.
In fact,The J-11B, the basic model, is still heavily equipped with troopsIt is an important part of the combat power of the Chinese Air Force, and its follow-up upgraded J-11BG has also begun to be deployed.
It is foreseeable that the J-11BG, which has been upgraded with avionics and other key systems, will continue to play a roleIt has become an important part of the equipment system of the Chinese Air Force.
The technology of the J-11D will also further promote the development of the J-11 series and open a new chapter in this family.
From the development process of the J-11D, we can also see in what direction the Chinese fighter is developing.
Clear tactical mission orientation,Emphasis on multi-purpose performance, emphasizing the level of informatization, and continue to promote the application of cutting-edge technologies such as stealth technology and hypersonics.
These concepts and features will run through the design concept of China's future fightersNot only in fifth-generation aircraft such as the J-20,It will also gradually penetrate into the evolution of fourth-generation aircraft such as J-10 and J-16 and even lower generations.
This not only ensures the leading role of cutting-edge technology, but also takes into account the need for backward compatibility.
So despite the fact that there is no service,However, the development of the J-11D embodied various concepts and innovative ideas, which will have a profound impact on the development of future fighters in China.
It not only promotes the continuous evolution of the J-11 series, but also inspires the technology accumulation of other models, and plays a key supporting role in the implementation of China's fighter development strategy.