Chinese military publicity rarely showcases images of fighters in fully loaded configurations, making it difficult to ascertain the maximum loadout capabilities of these aircraft. However, much like how in-game weapons such as the KH38 missile can have their loadout schemes inferred from pylon models, we can also draw conclusions about the maximum loadout capacity of Chinese fighters by examining the limited available photos that reveal their pylon types.
First, we should catalog the commonly used pylon models on Chinese aircraft. Those designed for medium-range missiles (such as PL-12/PL-15) include:
PF12,
PFT12
PF10W,
PF15,
PFT15.
In the game, many Russian Flanker variants are capable of carrying R-77/-1 missiles at the wing Station 2, replacing the typical R-73.
However, in most available photos of Chinese Flankers carrying ordnance, it is rare to see PL-12/PL-15 missiles mounted at wing Station 2 in place of PL-8/PL-10. Yet, from other clear images of aircraft in clean configurations, we can observe that more advanced Chinese Flanker variants like the J-16 and J-15 are fully equipped to utilize the PFT15 pylon at wing Station 2.
This confirms that medium-range missiles like the PL-12/PL-15 can indeed be employed at this station, allowing these aircraft to achieve a “10+2” missile loadout configuration without relying on dual-rail compound pylons.
Let’s take it a step further and explore what it would look like if—similar to the in-game Su-27SM—a dual-rail pylon were used on the fuselage station.
The PFT15 pylon, which can be employed on the J-16, is also incorporated into the composite pylon of the J-10C.
As shown in the game files, here are the models of the dual-rail pylons used for the R-77/-1 and the PL‑12.
By comparison, the dual-rail pylon designed for the PL‑12 is more compact and lighter.
By modifying the model files, we can observe that when the Su-27 series fighters are equipped with dual‑rail pylons carrying the PL‑12, there is no spatial conflict whatsoever.
If this configuration is combined with the use of wing Station 2—as seen on aircraft like the J‑16 and J‑15—these Chinese Flanker variants could theoretically achieve the same “12+2” missile loadout arrangement as their Russian counterparts.
Now, there remains one more issue: the dual-rail pylon for the PL‑12 mentioned earlier is used by the J‑10C in reality, and there are also photos of the J‑20 employing this pylon.
However, no photos show Chinese Flanker variants using this composite pylon in actual service.
Using this as grounds to deny Chinese Flankers the capability to mount dual‑rail pylons in the game would be both unreasonable and unfair. This is because the in-game Su‑27SM and Su‑30 likewise lack real‑world photos of them using dual‑rail pylons—the dual‑rail pylons equipped on them in the game are in reality used by the Su‑35 fighter. Just like the PL‑12 dual‑rail pylon I compared is actually deployed on the J‑10CE and J‑20, if the Su‑27SM can use the Su‑35’s dual‑rail pylon in the game, then by the same logic, Chinese Flanker variants should also be able to use the J‑10C’s dual‑rail pylon.
