The Chinese Chengdu J 20

The Chinese Chengdu J 20

    The J 20 program is the Chinese first fifth generation fighter program, that can designed to hunt down American stealth fighter jets and Bombers and gives an upper edge to the PLA Air force in aerial fighting, the actual program initiated later 1990's, with many ex Ukrainian aerospace engineers and downed American F 117 technologies, and many hacked source codes of American Joint Strike Fighter program, the J 20 appeared first in 2011, looks similar to the American F 22, with canards, and set a new milestone in global aerospace, the J 20 primarily designed as a Air superiority Fighter, by housing large number of sleek air to air missiles in it's three weapon bays.

    With bunch of resources, the Chinese almost managed to fast track the Fighter development program, after the first flight in 2011, within five years they almost build five more prototypes and using those for testing, even the new seventh prototype 2016 rolled out this month by performing aerial flight tests, six prototypes used for flight characteristics tests and one used for ground based tests, those appeared J 20 prototypes initially tested in long time, sometimes the test can go more than hours, that looks the J 20 has much long combat radius to perform long range missions and long period of aerial supremacy.

    The Chinese has only one major problem in the J 20 program is the Engines, they started the engine program way back 1990, still they are not matured enough to create a true turbo fan engines, countries like France, England, America and Russia are the only countries who developed a true fighter jet engines , and they keep the engine blades composite technology as secret, while China could able to absorb the tech, they tried the reverse engineered Russian AL 31 F engines dubbed as WS 10 in China, they used the WS 10 to build as much as Flanker clones,however the engine will not performed well in the J 20 test bed, so they plans to buy newer Engines from Russia. they tried to purchase the AL 41 117 engine who powers the Su 35 Super flankers and the prototype variants of PAK FA, Russia almost denied the Chinese request, how ever instead of selling the Engines, Russia prefer whole Su 35 Sale to China which gives more money to Russia rather just millions for some engines,  both of them almost signed the Contract, and earlier this year some media sources reported that Chinese Fighter pilots went to Russia for a Training mission to fly in the Su 35,

    The Chinese has a project based on the WS 10 to develop a improved version of AL 31 F, they concentrating the WS 15 engine to power the J 20, as per some leaked reports, Janes says the power output of the new engines is just 80 Kilo newtons, means twin engine provide some 160 kN, which is rated less powerful engine in the fifth generation fighter category,

    Same like other fifth generation fighter jets, the J 20 too comes with a  AESA Radar, China uses a much larger AESA compared to others with some 1856 modules for transmitting and receiving emitted signals, which is capable to detect and track targets up to some 200 kilo meters, however these are all come from Chinese media, not a analyzed or confirmed reports, because no one saw the Radar inside the J 20, foreign military watches aware of KLJ 5 AESA radar,while the real capabilities is unknown, unlike foreign AESA are usually X band LPI radars , means enemy radar warning receiver will not detect the radar waves emitted from such Low probability of intercept Radar, Radar's like AN/APG 77, RBE 2 and Byelka has such capabilities, It's believed Chinese AESA too has such LPI Characteristics,

   The real shocking is the J 20's Electro Optic Targeting system (EOTS) one of the most advanced technologies emerged from the known IRST, which allows the fighter detect and track, enemy low observable stealth aircraft's in long ranges, even without using the on board radar, the EOTS can allow the fighter to launch medium range IR guided missiles, means the hostile air craft even have no idea about, where those missiles are coming from. such modern systems are presents only in the F 35 fighter jet, the system known as EOTS and in the Rafale known as FSO- Front sector optroincs, even the PAK FA based IRST system too not much advanced than the above mentioned systems.

    With the use of J 20's modern Avionic suites, the J 20 can detect and engage Su 30 MKI fighters from long range, even without being detected by the Sukhoi Radar, due to the LPI capability and Stealth the IAF's ground based Radar's too don't have the capability to track such stealth planes, The Sukhoi too have IRST which can detect the Low observable stealth aircraft, however it can detect those fighters in very close ranges only. same like other EOTS the J 20 too guide the air ground missiles using it's EOTS, how ever the J 20's weapon bay will not accommodate heavy bombs, they need to carry those missile externally only.

    One more Shocking is, China almost completed J 20's trails, and planning to mass produce those fighters within next two years, as earlier planned 2016 deadline is almost is passing by, It's believed China will carryout weapon tests in coming days, before going to mass productions, and by 2017 Chinese Air force gets the J 20 in it's wings, the same year Russia too induct their PAK FA in it's VKS fleet.

India and Russia starts drafting the Su 30 MKI upgrade Plan

India and Russia starts drafting the Su 30 MKI upgrade Plan

   The Indian and Russian officials started drafting a proposed modernization plan of Indian fleet of Su 30 MKI and the Russian Su 30 SM fighters, the  proposed modernized plan take off only after 2020, once the Indian Su 30 MKI orders completed and the Russian orders of sixty Su 30 SM fighters, India and Russia both plans to upgrade the Su 30 into Super Standard, as of now India planned to operate some 272 Su 30, with 200+ units operational and another 72 in orders, and the Russian's operating some 15 Su 30 SM and another 45 in orders.

   The Modernization talks started in early 2012, and plans to start the works by 2015, because of some delays in the process, like the cost over run and Radar selection, the upgrade cost estimated more than six billion dollars for the Indian Su 30 MKI fleet, include new engines, radars and smaller structural changes, as India already working on the structural modification, to carry large sized missiles, Russians also working on a suitable Radar which can perfectly fit inside the radar dome.

    The Su 30 Flankers primarily designed to provide air defense to the Russian air space, so the Flanker was designed to carry large number of air to air missiles only, no Bombs or no other big sized stand off cruise missiles, even the Su 30 series won't carry drop tanks, carrying drop tanks extensively reduces the air craft's maneuverability, and makes the Fighter keep inside the Sub sonic speed, nowadays Supersonic drop tanks developed and tested, however Russia never bothered about the extended Range since all Russian Aircraft's has good combat radius. except the Mikoyan platforms.

    So at first in MKI modernization, India made several structural changes  in the airframe to carry dumb bombs, Stand off anti shipping missiles and stand off anti radiation missiles, those guided missiles would be fitted under the belly only, thus makes several issues too, like problems in landing etc, that's the major reason of Indian Air force's purchase of western aircraft's like Jaguar and Mirages in earlier days, as Russia too adopted adding air to ground weaponry into the Flanker series and making as Multi role, Russia went for two versions one is the Su 30 SM and the Su 35 S, both are considered as multi role air crafts.

   India mainly wants the Su 30 MKI should fire an Brahmos missile, the missile poses a serious offensive power in case of war, HAL already made some structural changes into the First two Su 30 MKI given by the IAF, they already completed ground based trails, include landing vibration trails, and planning for a test launch of the missile by early next year, It was earlier planned this year, once the Structural changes completed then HAL continuously work on the other platforms, however there is no mention of transferring some 42 modified Su 30 MKI armed with Brahmos to the SFC for Nuclear delivery, and it's hardly to be believed of Brahmos with Nuclear warheads.

   The Engine issue is a major problem in the existing Su 30 MKI platform, even IAF thinks to adopt a western engine during the upgrade program, and the Russian too offering modified AL 31 engines, however so far IAF didn't said about the engine replacements as of now, because the Sukhoi Engine service center already running  in HAL Koraput, and it shows that India may go for a advanced Russian engine based on the AL 31 or the more advanced AL 117 engines who powering the Su 35 fighters.

   Updated electronic warfare and Jamming system is one of the most important add on in the Su 30 upgrade, currently two Russian Jammers participating in the upgrade process, one is the Russian KNIRTI developed SAP 518 and the KRET's Khibiny jamming and EW system, India already evaluated the SAP 518 and it's believed the first batch of 42 structurally modified Indian flankers with Brahmos could carry the SAP 518 wingtip jammers, so far from analysis made by foreign military watchers the KRET's Khibiny is the advanced Jamming system ever developed by the Russians.

   Radar is the another piece which also discussed in the modernization plan, the Russians offering the most advanced Zhuk ME GaN based AESA Radar, however IAF asks about the Byelka Radar, which was developed for the T 50 program, the Byelka developed from BARS Irbis E radar, which is more feasible option for the IAF,

   The entire Su 30 MKI modernization program is expected to be completed in 2030, that's why IAF sticks the HAL to stop the Production line once complete the 272 orders placed by IAF, It's expected that HAL completes the MKI delivery by 2019.

ADA Tejas 1 P with AESA Radar

ADA Tejas 1 P with AESA Radar

     HAL Plans to retrofit the Israeli made EL/M 2052 aesa radar on the serial production of Tejas once FOC is achieved,so far LCA uses the Israeli made  2038 radar which is a Doppler Multi mode radar known as mmr. so far Tejas test fired the Russian made R 73 heat seeking missile, which is a Short range IR guided missile, but the BVR missile yet to be fired from the Tejas, as per initial planning IAF wants the Tejas to fire both Israeli and Russian Missile along with Indian m,ade Astra BVR and some other Precession Guided Munitions.

         For long Range Interception Most Fighter Aircrafts carry Long Range BVR missiles, which allows them to engage enemy fighters from safe distance,  Tejas having low Combat radius which is noted less than 500 Kilometers one of the main reason why IAF rejecting the Tejas, due to this less combat radius The Tejas should need a Long range BVR missiles, Tejas planned to Carry BVR missiles like Indian made Astra which having range of some 70 kilometers, the Russian made R 77 missile having Range of some 80 kilometers, and the Israeli made Derby missile having Range of some 50 kilometers,

        But so far no reason provided by the HAL or the ADA why Tejas still not fired the BVR missiles either anyone of them, earlier Tejas launched a R 73 with using bore sights which will not uses much of the Radar for fire and control the missile, the Israeli elta already provided the source codes to the ADA to integrate missiles and Bombs with the Radar and with the Fighter Jets primary control systems, it's a Huge technology needed to integrate the Radar with Fighter jets and communicate with other platforms like Ground Stations and other aerial platforms like AEWCS.

       which also a major concern why IAF not interested in Tejas, even the decade old MiG 21 Bison which is a Upgraded version have BVR missiles for Interception, the Bison uses the R 77 adder missile for BVR engagement and R 73 Archer for Short range engagements. that's the main reason why IAF still using the Bison's in it's fleet and not interested the Tejas,

       Tejas not yet received the In flight Refueling probe, but it's already on behind the schedule by some six months, so far no informations are received, also recently the HAL team carried out hot refueling of Tejas, means Refueling the plane while the engine on working, a step towards refueling in the Air.

     The missile firing questions many things, does the Radar or the data links have problem to fire missiles and Bombs, and the IAF also interested in ASEA radars, where ADA planned AESA radars only on MK 2 versions or retro fit later, two models of planned one is Israeli ELTA made EL/M 2052 AESA another ARDE Uttham AESA recently unveiled on the Aero India 2015.

     It's the Indian Navy who is eagerly wants the Naval version of Tejas. who is also funding for naval tejas project too, the Naval Tejas planned to carry Kh 31, and Kh 35 Anti Shipping missiles, but the current situation is the same like BVR integration, means they yet to integrate and fire the missile.

      By these all problems It's seems that ADA and HAL plans to fit the AESA radar in Tejas to Fire those multi kind of Missiles, the news also not comes from official spokespersons or HAL, but some sources closed to ADA reveal the information, It's good to having a AESA in Tejas which gives more range and more target informations accommodate more missiles and fires them guide them to hit the Target, if Tejas fitted with AESA, then it becomes the first IAF fighter who comes with Operational AESA Radar equipped Fighter Jet

Super Sukhoi Su 30 MKI

Super Sukhoi Su 30 MKI

   Sukhoi modernize program is  the another Long delayed Air force project, the Super sukhoi project is a Trending project during the early 2010, after announcing the MMRCA tender and winner most of them almost forget the modernise program, but still which not being considered as first priority, The Su 30 MKI is the Backbone of the Indian Air space protection, where recent troubles in Engines and Service availability also irked the issue. 

     while most other airforce's ramming up their primary fighter, Like pakistani's comes up with Latest F 16 Block 52 Fighter, and Chinese also in effort and Successfully fitted AESA and home grown EW systems in thier flankers, they also in talks with Russians to buy more advanced 117S jet Engines, to power their Flankers.

      But unfortunately we went earlier customized version of Flanker, which is far more advanced than any other Flanker, but that's not anymore, where west is merely researching about  retrofitting AESA, EW jammers and integrating more advanced Missiles, Still our MKI lags behind and runs as earlier like 2012, reports from HAL mentioned that they were complete the All pre ordered 272 Aircrafts before 2019, and they will step on another projects like Tejas MK2, AMCA and FGFA projects, so lack of Technological advancements and manpower, It's need to switch the MMRCA supplier,

        while HAL remains masters in Su 30 MKI, the super sukhoi upgrade also needs to hands over to HAL Team, meanwhile HAL invested so much in Sukhoi project, Recently DRDO gets two modified Su 30 for testing purpose mainly engine replacement and other Electronic equipments, slowly brighten the path of Modernize program, also earlier they get two Su for missile Integrations,

        Also under a Program the HAL and DRDO working to integrate Brahmos A missile with the MKI, a 44 of the Su 30 MKI can be modified to carry the Brahmos A missile, a Nuclear warhead is on the option. which may be fall under SFC, 

        But we have wide options, I sure that HAL and DRDO gets complete Knowledge of Su 30 MKI, so doing more in Su makes most efficient fighter in Asia for another 15 Years, It's the Israeli's who first Successfully changed the F 15 Air superiority of  Multi role Fighter, where US uses two versions of  F 15 one for Air another for Strike, The MKI is also have the capability of Multi role, but not the same like F 15 which is a Multi role CAS fighter,

      The Su MKI can't perform good Missions in Low Altitude due to It's size and Limits, but with it's awesome Combat radius is unmatchable, one more thing would be noticeable the MKI can't carry external drop tanks, which means the Fighter always supersonic and high AoA, the enemy noticed they saw a Su 30 MKI he should eject first from it's fighter, to save his life.

       the Possible Upgrades to the MKI is adding more effective Multi role, like Multiple ejector Rack, AESA radar, more powerful EW and Jamming systems, along with High performance Engines,

          India have wide options of AESA, ERDE already developed a AESA multi mode radar with the support of Israeli Elta, which is unveiled in Aero India  2015, which can be fitted into MKI, while it was originally designed for MK2 Tejas, a modified version can be used in Su 30MKI,  also variety of foreign options also available, we can buy from either Israeli's, Americans or French,

    

    The same also integrating Anti armour missiles into Su 30 MKI to perform CAS missions, for doing anti armour and CAS missions, the fighter comes to very low, and need a visual identification before striking, also most anti armour missiles  comes as low weight less range, which means one pylon can carry four such missiles in a rack config, earlier last week their is a information out that India working a base degin to create one, otherwise we can buy some from French where they already developed Spear Missile, Americans have Small Diameter Bombs.

         Another major aspects is the  Engines, the engine issue in Su 30 MKI is a Major problem, while it comes with Dual engines, even one fails the other can bring the fighter to home base, the 117S engine from Russia seems good, who also power the Su 35, otherwise we may go for west for good Engines, but Better Idea is a Joint venture with some Foreign, a Engine for Indian projects must needed, we already have a Joint venture with General Electrical with an Indian private company,

       If all the above options are considered and Quickly established we may see the Upgraded MKI before 2020, and the Initial batches comes by 2025.