Zhuhai 2014 / PLA Aircraft and PGMs

Last Updated: Wed Jan 28 12:28:15 UTC 2015

Zhuhai 2014
PLA Aircraft and PGMs

Photographic Essay APA-PE-2015-0101

by David Bignell
28th January, 2015
Text and lineart © 2015 Carlo Kopp
Photographic images © 2014-2015 David Bignell

Shenyang J-31 multirole fighter aircraft.

The annual Zhuhai aerospace exhibition and trade show has become arguably the primary venue for China's rapidly growing military aerospace industry to showcase its numerous products, or proposed products.

UK photographer David Bignell visited the 2014 Zhuhai event and produced a collection of professional quality imagery, using a Canon EOS70D DSLR, with the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lightweight telephoto, and Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM utility zoom.

Notable at the 2014 airshow were the Y-20 and Y-9 airlifters, the J-31 fighter, the visiting Russian Su-35S FLANKER, and the wide range of Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) and unguided munitions, some seen previously, some not. Over the last decade we have observed unprecedented growth in the diversity and capability of Chinese developed and built PGMs and unguided munitions.

Even if we account for the propensity of Chinese industry to display demonstrators, prototypes and concept mockups at trade shows, in addition to production munitions, there is little doubt that Chinese industry is aiming to become a major provider in the global PGM market. Current Chinese industry offerings in PGMs alone span the full gamut of capabilities offered by US, EU, and Russian industry, with many designs modelled on US/EU products, and many directly derived from Russian products. Notably these offerings are "ITAR-free" products and not subject to the restrictive, non cost-effective, falsely expensive and non-competitive nature of this antiquated Cold War based control regime. While in the West ITAR is often exploited to drive up the cost of military exports, to increase profit margins at taxpayer's expense, China without such controls can manufacture and export cheaply, following a commercial model, and is set to displace Russia as the primary supplier of PGMs compatible with Soviet/Russian technology platforms, be they of Chinese, Russian or Ukrainian origin.

Notes:

Gordon Arthur, AIRSHOW CHINA 2012 – CHINESE JUGGERNAUT GAINS MOMENTUM, Defence Review Asia, Ventura Media, URI: http://www.defencereviewasia.com/articles/210/CHINESE-JUGGERNAUT-GAINS-MOMENTUM;
C. Kopp and M. Andrew, PLA Guided Bombs, Technical Report APA-TR-2009-0808;
C. Kopp and M. Andrew, PLA Cruise Missiles / PLA Air - Surface Missiles, Technical Report APA-TR-2009-0803
Imagery: Canon EOS70D, 20 MP DSLR;
Lenses: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM.

Shenyang J-31

This is a prototype of the J-31, China's second known low observable tactical fighter. While Western media like to equate it to the F-35 JSF in the belief this aircraft has its origins in the terabytes of data reportedly obtained by cyber-hacking US defence contractor networks in 2007, the truth is quite different. The J-31 is a twin engine design in which the planform, shaping, aerodynamics and airframe configuration are fundamentally different, and clearly modelled on the F-22A Raptor. This reflects the strategy pursued by the Soviets during the 1970s in developing the MiG-29 FULCRUM around the basic configuration of the MDC F-15A, rather than the GDC F-16A.

Sukhoi Su-35S FLANKER

Russia has recently agreed to export the new build Su-35S [Su-35BM/Su-27M2] “Super Flanker” to China. This aircraft is a substantial redesign of the legacy FLANKER airframe, with new supersonic cruise capable 3D TVC Al-41F1A engines, an entirely new digital avionic suite, and a range of new weapons. Notable is the resculpted nose and radome, and the recently introduced two-tone tactical camouflage.

Xian H-6M BADGER

The Xian H-6M is a recent new production multirole variant of the resuscitated H-6 BADGER. Other than revised avionics to support a range on new guided munitions, this variant is notable for the use of additional outboard pylons for the carriage of up to four large external weapons. Of interest is that the Zhuhai display presented a wide range of guided munitions for this aircraft, with airshow placards detailing no less than six guided bomb types, two guided glide-bomb types, two guided submunition dispensers, and a standoff missile as compatible with the H-6M.

KJ-2000 AWACS

The KJ-2000 AWACS is now considered a fully operational asset in the PLA-AF. The aircraft uses a uniquely modified Russian Ilyushin Il-76M CANDID airframe.

Shaanxi Y-9

The Y-9 is the latest derivative of the Y-8F airframe, itself a derivative of the Soviet era Ukrainian designed An-12 CUB airlifter. The Y-9 is widely regarded to be a Chinese equivalent to the C-130J Hercules.

Xian Y-20

The new Xian Y-20 airlifter is very close to the Il-76M CANDID theatre airlifter in size, weights and performance, but is closer to the Boeing C-17A in configuration. In practical terms, it provides around 2/3 of the capability of a C-17A.

Precision Guided Munitions

The CASC FT-2 Satellite Aided Inertially Guided Glide-Bomb was first disclosed five years ago, when mockups were displayed at several industry events. The display item depicted is in production colours.

The first two weapons in this lineup are the recently disclosed Norinco GB6/TL500 1,000 lb gliding submunition dispenser, clearly modelled on the European DWS-24 dispenser, and the TG1000 2,000 lb Laser Guided Bomb, clearly modelled on the GBU-24 Paveway III series, and using a similar P-nav seeker to the earlier LT-3. The tubular TG1000 warhead casing is typical for concrete penetrating warheads.

The LT-2 (Ler Ting 2) LGB is China's first volume production guided bomb. The basic bomb kit is sized for a 500 kg / 1,000 lb class general purpose bomb body. The seeker uses a Paveway I/II style annular airfoil seeker with a conventional quadrant detection assembly.

The glide weapon in the foreground was not identified by designation on the Zhuhai placards, but described as a loitering anti-radiation weapon. In the background are, consecutively, the LT-2, an undesignated missile, a planar wing C-802A derivative, a 200 kg concrete piercing anti-runway munition, a 2,000 lb dumb bomb, and the CM-800 series standoff weapon.

This view of the H-6M weapons suite shows the CS/BBF1 500 lb Fuel Air Explosive (FAE) bomb, and the CM-802A standoff weapon, in the foreground.

This JH-7A FLOUNDER display shows, left to right in the foreground, the LD-10 Anti-Radiation Missile, based on the LETRI SD-10/PL-12 “Sino-AMRAAM” airframe, the revised configuration of the CASC FT-3, and an LT-2 LGB. The wing pylons carry a glide-bomb, laser guided bomb, and inboard, an electro-optically guided canard bomb kit.

The Chengdu Pterodactyl / Wing Loong RPV is modelled on the configuration of the US General Atomics Predator/Reaper series, and is similar in weight and size.

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