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Flankers Under the Dragon's Wings

A Timeline of Events

by Crobato

1997	April. About 14-17 SU-27s were seriously damaged in a typhoon. Three were irreparably damaged. One report, needing verification, says that the aircraft was replaced for free, presumably from the Russians’ own inventory, as part of an expression of good will between Russia and China.

1997	Summer. Documentation for the license production is turned over.

1998	December. Two test planes assembled and flew for the first time over Shenyang. But due to poor quality, had to be re-manufactured.

1999	February 20. SU-30 bort 05 is converted into the first SU-30MKK prototype. Bort 05 has previously served as the first SU-30 prototype.

1999	July. Third order of SU-27UBK deal signed, with estimated number up to 28, with each plane about $35 million. All -UBK orders are handled by IAPO, while -SK and –MKK orders are handled by KnAAPO. This order is paid by Russian state debt to China.

1999

August 27. First order of SU-30MKK signed, presumably for 45 aircraft but turns out to be 38 or 40. Early reports vary in number from 40 to 50. The PRC required that KnAAPO be the executor of the contract, instead of IAPO which the Sukhoi has assigned SU-30 two seater construction. KnAAPO built the SU-27SK for the PLAAF but is only allowed to build single seaters. The assignment to KnAAPO showed the PRC being uncomfortable having the SU-30MKK built in the same IAPO plant where the SU-30MKI is being developed in partnership with India.

1999	October 2. A number of SU-27s participated in the National Flag day celebrating the PRC’s fiftieth anniversary. Planes that participated in the event are marked with a red flag near the right side of the cockpit. Planes that participated included bort 02, 024, 025 and 026.

2000

March 5. The first pre-series SU-30MKK, bort 501, had its first flight. The plane showed that despite previously believed, the plane lacked canards and TVC. A notable visual feature about the plane is the SU-35 like tails. The much more conservative approach to the plane suggests that unlike the Indians with their SU-30MKI, the Chinese were not willing to wait for years developing Super Flanker features like TVC, canards and phased array, and was in a big hurry to get their version first. One interesting note about the SU-30MKK is that its physical structure has been strengthened to hold 34.5 metric tons on average and a maximum gross weight of 38.8 metric tons, allowing the plane to use full internal fuel load with its maximum 8,000kg payload on 12 hardpoints. The radar of the plane is identified as the N001VE mated to the SUV-VEP and SUV-P weapons subsystems, each using a Baguet-6 processor, a 486 class chip. The weapons systems allow the use of among others, the R-27R/ER/T/ET and R-77 for BVR; R-73E for close combat; Kh-29T/TE, Kh-31A/P, Kh-59ME, and KaB-500/1500/kr bombs for ground and ship attack. The radar can simultaneously detect, track and scan ten targets, and engage two of them with automatic prioritization or manual selection. It can also guide two missiles to one target. The plane has the OEPS-31E-MK, which has the improved longer ranged OLS-30 IRST and laser target designation. The plane also has the ability to secure datalink with 16 other SU-30s or aircraft with compatible links. The front cockpit include two large 6x8 color MFDs and the rear cockpit with another two large 6x8 color MFDs. The AK-9 pod enables use of the Kh-59ME, while the UOMZ Sapsan-E pod under development for the MKK, allows use of laser guided weapons on a level flight trajectory. The plane can also carry two Sorbtsya ECM pods on the wing tips.

2000	May 10. There are reports that China purchased at least 100 R-77s. The exact model is the R-77E with a clearance code name of R-129.

2000	May 19. The second pre-series SU-30MKK, bort 502, had its first test flight. There is some dispute as to when exactly is the first flight of the prototypes. The plane had a PLAAF style camouflage in contrast to the Russian blue and white camo on the 501.

2000	August 10. One report says that seven SU-30MKK has been completed on this date (Russian Military Power site). Another report says that an SU-30MKK prototype, was turned over (aeronautics.ru). This could have been Bort 501.

2000	Shenyang Aircraft Corporation begins serial assembly of SU-27, a.k.a J-11. 10 were completed and delivered with 11 (7+4) completed and under testing prior to delivery. The planes did not prove to be SU-27SMK standard, but rather an upgraded SU-27SK.

2000	November 6-12. SU-30MKK bort 502 was publicly displayed in Zhuhai 2000. An SU-30MKK prototype was said to have been ceremoniously handed over at Zhuhai airshow.

2000	December 20. China receives the first 6 out of a initial batch of 10 SU-30MKK from KnAAPO.

2000

December 22. 8 (10 according to IAPO) of the third batch IAPO built SU-27UBK were received and assigned to the Chengdu region. They were reportedly equipped with an updated radar capable of firing the R-77 missile (N001V?) The payload of these UBKs are raised to about 8,000kg. It is possible that this updated radar may also equip the J-11s, considering the 28 plane batch of SU-27UBKs were meant to train pilots for the licensed J-11s. It is also possible that the J-11s may have raised their payloads to 8,000kg, which seems to be a consistent pattern in PLAAF requirements. Early planes of this SU-27UBK batch have bort numbers over 50. No bort numbers are painted in the nose, and the bort numbers are only placed in the tail, indicating a new PLAAF policy.

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