Why is the SU-30 in the Flanker line, but the J-16 is in the strike aircraft line?
No, I meant the russian tree. Why does the Russian multi-role fighter get to be in the flanker line, but the Chinese multi-role is in the strike line?
Russia already has a flanker in its strike line though?
But why is the J-16 in the strike line?
for china
i guess it could be that they view the J-16 as more strike oriented variant when compared to the more traditional single seat J-11 etc, maybe someone who is more familiar with PLAAF doctrine can answer
But the SU-30SM/SM2 is also in that same category?
Because it’s a strike fighter, that’s the entire reason why it’s made and the J11D wasn’t, literally same reason why the F15E is in the bomber line
from what i have seen VKS/VMF deploy their Su-30s as more of a traditional multi role fighter
unlike the PLAAF which seem to use the J-16 for more strike missions
But isn’t it weird that they put the J-16 in the strike line and not the Su-30SM? Even if the J-16 is used more for strike missions, they are still in the same category.
Question, what A2G ordinance are we missing for China?
akd-98a/akf-98a, akf-88c, YJ-15, YJ-12 from China arsenal
and C-704, TL-20, CM-400AKG, LD-8A and billion GPS bomb from export
Also the IR Kh-29 that got passed a couple days ago
It’s not the Kh-29T, and we don’t even know its name.
Does China have anything like the GBU-39 that can be carried in high quantity?
Yes
CM-506kg probably
Although it’s not seen other than light trainer L15
It is not known for certain. The most viable option is the TL-20, but we don’t know if it features any sort of advanced pylon capable of carrying 2, 3, or 4 bombs.

