After JF-17 Fighter, Chinese J-11B Jet Could Be Next On Pakistan's Shopping List (Analysis)

After JF-17 Fighter, Chinese J-11B Jet could be next on
Pakistan’s Shopping List

A Defenseworld.net News Analysis, 11:13 AM, January 4, 2021
J-11BG fighter jet with AESA radar. Image via Chinese media
Pakistan’s new fighter jet buy could narrow down to China’s J-11B aircraft as the induction of Rafale
jets by India has tilted the air power balance in favor of New Delhi.
The participation of the J-11B fighter jets in the recently concluded China-Pak Shaheen-9 air exercise
besides their recent upgrade with an Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radar among
others equipment strengthens their case for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as an affordable, yet
contemporary jet.
At the Shaheen-9 air exercise, PAF Chief of Air Staff Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan flew an “air
superiority sortie in a hi-tech Chinese fighter aircraft,” a statement issued by the Pakistan Air Force
(PAF) said on December 23. The aircraft the Air Chief flew in was not identified, but what we know
from images and videos released during the exercise is that the Chinese brought in J-11s and J-10s for
the exercise. While both are touted as multi-role aircraft, the twin-engine J-11B is deployed for air-
superiority capabilities while the single-engine J-10’s primary role is ground attack.
The modernized J-11B would hold an advantage over the JF-17, currently the leading aircraft in PAF
inventory, due to its increased engine power, newly minted AESA radar and a larger option of
missiles and bombs.
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Delay in JF-17 block III induction
PAF is heavily dependent upon the JF-17 fighter jet whose Block-III version’s production in
Pakistan was announced last week. The Block III version will feature an AESA radar, an advanced
targeting pod, electronic warfare besides equipping the aircraft with beyond-visual-range missiles.
However, it will not be before 2023-24 that the Block III will begin to enter PAF service. By this
time India would have inducted nearly all of its ordered 36 Rafale jets.
The PAF has time and against voiced its desire to maintain air parity with India and going to China
for either the J-11 or J-10 could be the only way of securing that parity.
Chinese J-11B Refueling during Shaheen-9 exercise. PAF video grab

Interoperability
The Pak Air Chief was all praise for Chinese military aviation technology stating that it is at par with
contemporary requirements to meet challenges of modern warfare. "It was heartening to see the two
air forces inter-operating across a wide spectrum of airpower employment options,” he was quoted as
saying in the PAF statement.
Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan’s stress on Pak –China air force inter-operability could mean common
assets (aircraft, drones, air defense systems, communications systems) that one another’s air forces
can fuse together as one. This is similar to the NATO operations book where allied nations are
expected to have inter-operable assets.
Earlier, Pakistan bought defence equipment from China due to their comparatively low price tag- but
now with inter-operability being the buzzword, the PAF could acquire more of Chinese equipment to
make itself fuse with that of the Chinese air force.
JF-17s taxiing for take off. PAF video grab
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Upgraded J-11B
An improved variant of China's J-11B (designated J-11BG) aircraft has reportedly entered batch
production, the Shenyang Aircraft Co. Ltd. under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of
China (AVIC) announced on its Sina Weibo account last week. It is not known what improvements
the new J-11BG variant has received, but is widely believed to be equipped with an AESA radar to
replace the previous pulse-Doppler radar.
Entering batch production is an indication of either increased domestic intake or an export order.
Since China already has significant number of J-11Bs in its inventory which could be modernized
to the BG standard, a new production run for a modernized version hints at an export order.
Around the time of the Shaheen -9 exercise, images began appearing in Chinese media of AESA
radar equipped J-11B (G) having their nose cones painted in white (as opposed to black cones in
earlier generation J-11Bs. Could these new aircraft be destined for Pakistan?
Targeting Pod
While the Rafale’s Talios targeting pod is considered the current industry standard in the world, not
much is known about the targeting pods on the J-11B. China is offering locally made targeting
pods for export- the WMD-7 and OC2. Both have similar capabilities - infrared targeting range of
20 kilometers and laser designator with a range of 15 kilometers.
China also began introducing locally made laser guided bomb - the LT-series. These were similar
to the American Paveway and the Russian KAB-500L.
Turkish firm Aselsan has signed a contract with Pakistan to integrate its ASELPOD Electro Optical
Targeting System onto JF-17 fighter jets. A contract amounting to $24.9 million for 16 ASELPOD
systems had been signed in 2017.
Earlier, Pakistan tried unsuccessfully to obtain the Damocles targeting pod made by Thales before
settling for the ASELPOD.
Dassault Rafale V/s J-11B
China has operated the J-11B based on Soviet Su-27 Flankers since mid-1990s. According to
reports, the J-11B’s radar signature and immunity from jamming is considerably inferior to those of
the most modern Rafale variants which are equipped with newer AESA radars. The time needed for
the Rafale to scan its surroundings is also shorter relative to the J-11B.
Pakistan air chief Marshal
Mujahid Khan. Undated
image via PAF
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Rafale Vs. J-11B
Feature J-11B Fighter Dassault Rafale Notes
Role Air Superiority. Multi- Multi-role -
role in BG ariant
Radar J-11BG: AESA radar RBE2-AA AESA radar Both radars are capable of
simultaneously tracking similar
number of targets at ~280km range
Chinese radar is larger and 50%
heavier: detects targets over 450km
away
Maximum Speed Mach 2.25 Mach 1.8 High speed and altitude are key
assets for beyond visual range
engagements
Engine 2x Shenyang WS- 2x Snecma M88
10A "Taihang"
Combat Range 1500 Km 1850 Km -
Avionics Fire-control radar: NIIP RBE2-AA AESA radar;
Tikhomirov N001VE SPECTRA Electronic
Myech coherent pulse Warfare system;
Doppler radar, or Type Thales/SAGEM-OSF
1474 radar; OEPS-27 Optronique Secteur Frontal
electro-optic system; IRST system
NSts-27 HMS;
Gardeniya ECM pods
Armament:
Guns 1× 30 mm (1.18 1× 30 mm (1.2 in) GIAT With a comparable
in) Gryazev-Shipunov GSh- 30/M791 autocannon with 125 weapons load on each
30-1 cannon with 150 rounds fighter, the J-11B can
rounds reportedly exceed the
Rafale’s range by over
Hardpoints 10: 2 under fuselage, 2 14 for Air Force versions (Rafale 30% owing to its light
under air ducts, 4 under B/C), 13 for Navy version weight and lower fuel
wings, 2 on wingtips (Rafale M) with a capacity of capacity
9,500 kg (20,900 lb) external
fuel and ordnance
Missiles PL-15, PL-12, PL-9, PL-8, Magic II, MICA IR or EM, J-11B’s PL-15 and
Vympel R-77, Vympel R- Meteor, MBDA Apache, Storm Rafale’s Meteor both have
27, Vympel R-73 Shadow, SCALP, AASM- a range of 300km
Hammer, Paveway, Mark 82,
Exocet, ASMP-A nuclear missile
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After JF-17 Fighter, Chinese J-11B Jet Could Be Next On Pakistan's Shopping List (Analysis)

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After JF-17 Fighter, Chinese J-11B Jet could be next on

Pakistan’s Shopping List

Chinese J-11B Refueling during Shaheen-9 exercise. PAF video grab

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