China's "Growler" takes maiden flight

The J-16D, a dedicated electronic warfare version of the Chinese J-16 (SU-30MKK) took to the sky on Dec. 18th of last year. It differs from the fighter/bomber version of the J-16 by the deletion of the cannon, IRST dome, the addition of several EW antennas and wing tip EW pods like the EA-18G Growler. The Chinese J-16 fighter/bomber took it's maiden flight back in 2011.

While China's Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) operations rely on heavy air defenses, Chinese air force planners may also have to account for enemy surface to air missiles, all the more with Taiwan and Japan embarking on a new buildup of missile shields. In December, one of the responses was revealed: the Shenyang J-16D.

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a reply to: Sammamishman

It looks like the SAP-518 self protection system used on the Fullback. If they are, they'll pair it with the SAP-14 pod on the centerline station.

a reply to: Sammamishman

On all the SU models they have that weird little tail sticking out at the end past the exhausts, does it serve any purpose beyond what I assume is for aerodynamics ? Is it where the store the landing parachute ?

a reply to: Discotech

Some SU's have parachutes in the extended tail.

a reply to: Sammamishman

Looks cool. I realize it's a copy. Do you or Zaphod know if the flight controls are as hard as a rock. like when they copied a Boeing airliner. Or have they got the flight computers working better?

a reply to: Discotech

Rear facing radars.

a reply to: Bigburgh

I'm not sure but I'd guess they are exactly the same as the Russian jets since they are license built.

a reply to: Sammamishman

I didn't know it was license built. I always had the misconception, that China bought a few. Then decided to make thier own copies. Thanks I learned something new.

"The J-16 also features the Su-30MKK’s reinforced twin-wheel nose gear to cope with the increased weight, and the taller vertical tails albeit without the typical ‘squared-off’ fin caps"

So this may not be Carrier worthy. But still might be a scary adversary once they are mass produced. The weapons compatibility looks pretty good by China's standards. But I wonder how it would hold up against the F35 F22 or the upgraded F18/VF.

a reply to: Bigburgh

They do that too. Some of the hardware is license built, then when they have enough knowledge on how it works they cancel or let the license expire and start building their own carbon copies. It's they same routine they do with non-military Western tech and the Chinese have a state run division/industry specifically set up to reverse engineer and transfer tech to state industry for mass production. The Russians know this and complain about it all the time but they still sell hardware and the licensing to the Chinese because they need the money.

originally posted by: Bigburgh
a reply to: Sammamishman


So this may not be Carrier worthy. But still might be a scary adversary once they are mass produced. The weapons compatibility looks pretty good by China's standards. But I wonder how it would hold up against the F35 F22 or the upgraded F18/VF.

It probably wouldn't take that much engineering to convert/upgrade their Carrier J-15's (SU-33's) to an EW specific variant.

a reply to: Sammamishman
As you mentioned the need for money.
Oddly enough. Russia needs the money selling the tech to other countries. Only to sell it to china. whom turns around, and offer it up for sale to other countries. I'd complain too. 😁
Talk about supplying your competition.

a reply to: Bigburgh

Exactly. Which in it'self is a bad omen for the Russian aviation industry that they value instant capital to keep afloat over long term losses.
They make some good stuff but the Russians are in a bad way right now with the rise of Chines export and a lot of traditionally Eastern dominated countries starting to shift to the West for kit. I think the Russian gov. money is the only reason they're still around right now.

a reply to: Sammamishman

Don't have to read between the lines of your Post to get the dire situation.

Thanks Sammamishman.

a reply to: Sammamishman

that is just a sharp looking jet...love the overall body style

a reply to: Sammamishman

In other words, as Andrew Dice Clay would say @11 seconds in