The J-11 series maintains the appearance of the original Su-27 Flanker series to a tee. The cockpit is situated well-forward in the well-contoured nose behind a nosecone assembly housing the internal radar facilities. The wings are set well-aft of amidships and swept rearwards with straight wingtips. The fuselage is wide with air intakes along the bottom facing, aspirating the twin engine layout. The engines are well-spaced apart and further divided at the rear of the design by a small tail fairing "stinger" type protrusion. The empennage is conventional in nature, consisting of a pair of rear-swept vertical tail fins and applicable horizontal tail planes, also swept. The undercarriage is fully retractable and consists of two main legs and a nose landing gear leg.
To date, there are a handful of J-11 variants beginning with the initial J-11. J-11 signifies the Chinese-built, Russian-supplied Su-27SK air superiority models. The J-11A was improved with better radar avionics and a new Chinese-developed Helmet-Mounted Sight (HMS). The J-11B marked the Chinese departure from Russian reliance as these became the much-needed multirole variant that the PLAAF required. The J-11BS is a two-seat trainer derivative of the J-11B that incorporates a second instructor's cockpit in tandem with the student cockpit (at the expense of internal volume) though retains full combat-capability. The J-11BS is currently in development as of this writing with a prototype believed to have been lost in 2009. The J-11BH is believed to be a navalized form of the J-11B multirole mount and became first known in 2010. Now that the Chinese Navy is completing work an ex-Soviet aircraft carrier, the J-11BH will have found a home on the high seas.
One of the more distinct J-11 developments currently under consideration is the J-16 which is thought to be a highly "stealthified" mount incorporating the latest in Chinese technology as well as proven stealth characteristics. The J-16 is purported to have revised engine intake openings, possibly modified engine exhaust ports to reduce the aircraft's heat signature, vertical tail fins canted outwards of centerline and an internal weapons bay to reduce the radar cross section. Still other stealthy developments are thought to exist using the J-17, J-18 and J-19 designations.
Armament for the J-11 series involves the standard Russian-developed 1 x 30mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 internal cannon afforded 150 rounds of ammunition. For the air defense role, the J-11 can be outfitted with a variety of Chinese-engineered and Russian-inspired air-to-air homing missile systems including the PL-8, PL-9 and PL-12 as well as the Vympel R-27, R-73 and R-77 series. For the ground-attack role, the J-11 takes on rocket pods (unguided rockets) and conventional drop bombs including cluster types. With more advanced attack radars, the J-11 will finally be cleared for use with Chinese laser-guided munitions and other "smart" ordnance as available. The J-11 enjoys a healthy reach across ten external hardpoints including two wingtip mounts, four underwing, two near the air intakes and two underfuselage.
In late April of 2015 it was reported that a J-11D prototype had completed a maiden flight over the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation airfield. This airframe was noted with a portside in-flight refueling probe and was outfitted with systems developed for the J-16 fighter program.
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