Review by: The Center for Military Modernization
250-Page Research book Details Chinese Fighter Jet Fleet
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“Red Dragon Flankers” –Analysis of China’s Fighter Jet Fleet
Do the Chinese J-20 and J-31 5th-generation stealth aircraft rival or surpass the US F-35 and F-22? Do upgraded variants of the J-10 outmatch upgraded US F-15s? These kinds of questions may be quite difficult to answer with any level of deep-dive technical specificity, yet they are likely of great significance to US weapons developers, commanders and senior leaders.
How much can be known or determined when it comes to Chinese fighter jet lethality, speed, sensing, targeting and overall air-combat capability? There are likely many unknowns to be sure, yet some cutting edge, in-depth research takes up these questions in great detail.
“Red Dragon ‘Flankers”
Andreas Rupprecht’s recently published “Red Dragon ‘Flankers’” offers what could be seen as rare and unprecedented insight and technological detail into “China’s Prolific Flanker Family.”
Video Above: Air Force 6th-Gen Stealth Fighters Control Attack Drones
Published in 2022, Rupprecht’s extensive analysis traces the history and inception of each Chinese fighter jet going back decades with a mind to how they have performed and influenced subsequent innovations. Ruprecht’s text does not analyze US platforms but rather offers a rare and extensively detailed look into China’s fleet and offers insights likely to be of great relevance to US weapons developers.
“This book serves as an overview of China’s profile “Flanker” family, describes the genesis of each individual Flanker family member, reviews the variants according to their systems and capabilities and finally, looks at how these aircraft are used by the (PLAAF) Peoples Liberation Army Air Force and People’s Liberation Army Naval Aviation,” Rupprecht writes.
Rupprecht’s 250-page analysis not only details the origins of each class of Chinese fighter jets, but looks at the significant and somewhat nuanced history of Chinese-Russian cooperation and the particular technical attributes each jet introduced to the PLAAF.
Future Chinese Air Attack
The text concludes with a “forward-looking” assessment of recent innovations and technologies woven into Chinese fighters with a mind toward anticipated future threats and capabilities. For instance, of course the US F-35 is well known for its AESA radar and advanced suite of electronic warfare technologies and varied weapons arsenal, Rupprecht identified similarities between Chinese and US Air Force general purpose bombs, targeting systems and EW capabilities.
Overall, the text explains that many unknowns remain, regarding the extent to which Chinese mission systems, EW, weapons guidance and targeting sensor parallel, rival or surpass upgraded US systems. Not much is known about the Russian-made Sapsan-E targeting pod believed to be now arming several Chinese fighter jet variants. The capability of this kind of sensor, certainly when it comes to range, image fidelity and guidance technology, would be critical to understand in any kind of detailed comparison between US and Chinese fighters.
This is particularly true in the case of the F-35, as its EO/IR targeting systems and Distributed Aperture Sensor cameras draw upon the jet’s advanced computer processing technology to identify specific enemy aircraft at unprecedented stand-off ranges. Can the upgraded J-16 or emerging J-20 and J-31 rival this in any way? The answer to this unknown is likely to determine which jet would prevail in any air-to-air engagement.
Specifically, the text highlights the Chinese Ying Sun III, an advanced EW system unveiled in 2016 and now flying on J-16s. The Ying Sun III, Rupprecht explains, emerged in several different variants to enable a wider range of mission options as compared to previous EW systems. This seems quite significant, as US EW systems such as the Next-Gen-Jammer not only deconflict the spectrum by integrating advanced software but also can identify and jam a large number of frequencies at one time. The mission scope of the Ying Sun III, the text explains, includes laser rangefinding, high-definition cameras and infrared sensing. These technologies may rival US applications of similar capability, depending upon the extent of upgrades and software modifications they incorporate.
Rupprecht addresses some of these potential similarities, explaining that China’s newest EW RKZ930-xx pod is “alleged to be as capable as the US AN/ALQ-99. “These EW jamming pods utilize AESA technology to achieve the maximum ‘soft-kill’ capability,” Rupprecht explains. This new variant is carried by China’s J-16D and J-15D both under the wings and on the intake stations.
There are many more variables considered throughout the text, as Rupprecht’s research uncovers what are likely unparalleled levels of detail regarding what is “observable” or “knowable” regarding the PLAAF’s current and emerging future force.
Purchase Rupprecht’s Book HERE — “Red Dragon Flankers”
Rupprecht’s Other China Books — “Chinese Air Power, 20th-Century,” “Red Dragon Bombers,” “Modern Chinese Warplanes,” “Flashpoint China,” “Chinese Army Aviation,”
************Center for Military Modernization Analysis**************
—Is China’s Stealthy J-20 Superior to the US F-35 and F-22?
—5th Gen Air War: F-35 vs Chinese J-20 & J-31 and Russian Su-57
— China’s J-10 Fighter Jet vs US F-15 Eagle?
—Can A US Air Force F-15 Destroy a More Modern Chinese J-10 Fighter?
*************Video from the Center for Military Modernization****************
