Hey guys, do you think PLAAF will use PL15/17/10 to replace the R77-1 on the Su35 in the future, just like the modifications made on Su30MKK2
Maybe
There are different versions (including American ones) of why China bought the Su-35…
The fact remains that China was the initiator of the deal to purchase the S-400 and Su-35…
So you’d better ask your Management this question…
Ngl, I think the su-35s will be the best overall flanker in war thunder - key point war thunder. Who knows if and when gaijin will bring more advanced ir missiles, and it’s looking like thrust vectoring is actually looking pretty damn good which will be a good advantage to the 35s will have. Yes, the j16 has better avionics and such, but does that matter if gaijin doesn’t model them? Plus, the su35s can carry more r37ms than the j16 can carry pl17s.
Gaijin would be stupid not to model them unless they are biased, to be honest.
Not to mention that we aren’t even sure if PL-17 or R-37 type missiles will even be considered as additions.
However, PL-10 will almost certainly be added (as well as R-74 and AIM-9X).
Ngl, I think the su-35s will be the best overall flanker in war thunder - key point war thunder. Who knows if and when gaijin will bring more advanced ir missiles, and it’s looking like thrust vectoring is actually looking pretty damn good which will be a good advantage to the 35s will have. Yes, the j16 has better avionics and such, but does that matter if gaijin doesn’t model them? Plus, the su35s can carry more r37ms than the j16 can carry pl17s
You’re overlooking the strengths of the J-16 whilst overestimating the strengths of the SU-35. Thrust vectoring isn’t as good as you make it seem to be, it’s niche at best. TVC missiles like the PL-10 already does this job effectively making the CQC advantages of the SU-35 for the most part null.
Additionally, you say that the SU-35 can carry more R-37Ms, but you fail to mention by how much. The SU-35 iirc can only carry a maximum of 4x R-37Ms, whilst it’s more than the J-16 can carry in the context of PL-17s, the J-16 can carry a generally superior loadout of BVR missiles (PL-17 + PL-15 vs R-37M + R-77M).
As much Gaijin loves to gimp China, I doubt they’ll keep this for long as their favourite cash cow, that being the USSR/Russia, will inevitably fall short from the US - something China simply won’t. I see China having a excellent future in aviation, the US and China being at the top whilst all other nations follow behind.
Yes, the j16 has better avionics and such, but does that matter if gaijin doesn’t model them
That also applies to every vehicle in-game, it could either be absolute dog sh*t or amazing depending on how it’s implemented. That isn’t a good argument on why the J-16 won’t be as effective as the SU-35.
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6 R-37M, in theory up to 8
Only avionics that matters in this game is Radar, RWR, MAWS, HMD. If J-16 got better of any of the 4 listed, they should add it
Because we needed to understand the development of the Russian electronic warfare pod and quickly build up combat effectiveness, there was a lot of pressure on the defense at that time, and we needed more fighters to deal with the tensions at that time. In addition, the use of Russian aircraft makes it possible to hide the IFF code of Chinese aircraft. Almost all of the aircraft used for interception in China are J-11A / Su-35, we have to hide ourselves, it’s as simple as that.
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Yes, it’s certainly not that bad. But compared to PLAAF’s own stuff, it doesn’t look so good. In addition, excellent maneuverability is precisely the best feature of interception missions.
6 R-37M, in theory up to 8
The J-16 in theory could carry up to 6x PL-17s, that shouldn’t be a factor as theory should be irrelevant in-game. This is also excluding the PL-XX still in development, a ramjet A2A missile (which allegedly has already been fired and tested).
Furthermore, the J-16 is capable of carrying a configuration of 2x/4x PL-10s, 8x? PL-15s and 2x PL-17s (for a total of 12), and by all means the PL-15s are far more capable than any AIM-120 and R-77 variant currently in service or ever tested.
This is also not taking into account avionics which without a doubt, the J-16 has the edge in. If we ever receive the J-16D, we could easily see the best BVR aircraft in-game with advanced internal EW systems and the full A2A capabilities inherited from the base J-16 minus the cannon and IRST.
Do you also mind sharing where you’ve gotten this “6x R-37M” loadout configuration from?
As it is kind of~ related to the thread, does anyone know how exactly do Chinese Su-35’s differ from RU Su-35S?
Since the export version is always worse, there are probably some weaknesses in the radar.
Well, this is outright nonsense. Gaijin, as usual, was unable to implement the thrust vector
6
PL-17< R-37M,PL-21=R-37M
Chinese BIAS…J-16…
1.Radar characteristics are unknown!
2. The characteristics of Optical-Location systems are unknown!
3.Avionica_photo of the cockpit is missing!
4. The engine is clearly worse than the AL-41F-1C!
P.S…For example, I can write that the KF-21EX will be better than the J-35A, can you prove the opposite?.
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It is all, generally healthy, assumptions.
Chinese semiconductor industry is robust enough that even lower end Chinese radars like LKF-601E (which we know specifications of) for example are very impressive.
Optical system of J-16 was deemed ‘superior’ to that of Su-35 in an interview. That is all we know of it, and of course it is questionable at best, so I know better than to quote it. No characteristics, with that you are right.
^ Clearest image of the J-16 cockpit (not really I guess) I have in hand.
About the engine, it is simply not true that AL-41F-1S is outright better, or that WS-10 is worse. More recent Chinese engines, those from 2022 (core refresh) especially, are assumed to have hit over 5000 hours of service life. WS-10 is an engine with exceptional compressor aerodynamics and counter-rotating turbines. And it is not lacking in thrust department either. Chinese aeroengine industry at this time is mature enough for all this to not be surprising.
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From the brochure of the KNAAPO “Su-35” in 2006…
Spoiler
At that time, the main long-range missile was considered to be a KC-172 missile (a variant that has been under development since 2003)… Авиационные ракеты ОКБ “Новатор” на МАКС-2007: saidpvo — ЖЖ
So the Su-35S can carry larger missiles than the R-37M…
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- From private conversations, I have heard that the cabin of the J-16 is similar to the J-11B, only the central MFD is located on the J-16 in a row with the side ones…
J-11B/Su-35S…
Spoiler
2.As of the beginning of 2025, more than 350 J-16 units have been produced…
WS-10B engines, according to some sources, have been installed since 2022…so the vast majority of J-16s fly with WS-10A!.
It is quite possible that the J-16 has larger central MFDs or two like the Su-35S…
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I love how the 3rd Russian Battalion has entered the Sino - Flanker discussion flooding the chat with their low quality ragebait, next they’re going to claim that the SU-57 actually has a RCS of 0.001 and why the F-22 is actually worse compared to it!
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