Since the end of cold war we have seen more fighter development activities in China than anywhere else in the world, most noticeably the J-10 and J-11 projects, symbolizing PLAAF's ambition to become a modern air superpower. The flight of J-20 and FC-31 4th generation stealth fighters demonstrated the Chinese military aviation industry is surpassing western European and is narrowing the gap between itself and US as well as Russian aviation industry.
Together with J-20/21 (4th generation), J-10B/C and J-11D (3.5th generation) will replace the remaining J-7/8 series as well as the original Su-27 fighters and form the backbone of Chinese fighter force in a new high-low combination during the first half of the 21st century. It was first rumored in late 2012 that China ordered 24 Su-35Ss from Russia for $1.5b but this has not been confirmed.
The next generation carrier-based stealth fighter was rumored to be under development at the 611 Institute based on J-20. A recent rumor (September 2013) suggested that it is still competing with the smaller FC-31 (navalized) from the 601 Institute.
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A further improved variant of J-11B in the same class of American F/A-18E has been under development at 601/SAC as J-11D. Compared to J-11B, it features a new AESA radar and a digital FBW system which are similar to those of J-16. J-11D can also carry new generation of AAMs including PL-10 and PL-15. Two extra hardpoints were added to the inner wings. As the result up to 12 AAMs can be carried. More composite material was used in its wing and tail sections in order to reduce weight. It might also have a RAM coating to reduce the RCS but this has not been confirmed. The AESA radar was speculated to have been developed by the 14th Institute and was tested onboard a J-11B radar testbed in 2014. The first J-11D prototype (D1101) took off successfully from the SAC airfield on April 29, 2015, powered by two WS-10A engines. Its forward IRST/LR appears to have been offset to the starboard side of the windshield, suggesting an IFR probe was installed on the port side, an arrangement similar to that of J-15. There was a rumor that the engines could be the upgraded WS-10 with a max thrust of 14t but this has yet to be confirmed. It is possible the earlier J-11Bs could be upgraded to the D standard in the future.
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