Su-22 shipboard fighters are stationed aboard Admiral Kuznestov aircraft carrier.
Photo: Alexander Miridonov
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China Ready to Buy Su-33 Shipboard Fighters in Russia
China intends to acquire a consignment of Su-33 shipboard fighters in Russia, ARMS-TASS reported with reference to Russia’s sources of Jane's Defence Weekly.
The respective negotiations have continued for a few years, as China’s Navy couldn’t finally decide whether to acquire a shipboard modification of Russia’s Su-33 fighter or to proceed with elaborating a jet under the national project based on J-10 fighter.
According to sources with Russia’s industrial community, the serial Su-33 has been returned to production and China intends to acquire 14 jets of this type to use them for training pilots of jets based on the aircraft carriers.
The next effort under the project will be upgrading Su-33 that was designed in late 1980s and installing modern aviation electronics on it. The deal is expected to provide for the acquisition of 36 to 50 Su-33s of new configuration. The contract will set forth an option for additional consignment should China decide to construct the second aircraft carrier.
The jet of new configuration will be developed simultaneously with implementing the program of pilots’ training. The improved model will have a fuselage of Su-33 (shipboard version), a radar, avionics and other equipment of Su-30MK2 fighter. But it will be equipped with devices missed by Su-30MK2, including the improved digital system of flight control, Irbis-E radar with passive phased array or a radar with active array of electric scanning.
The jet will apply new weapons designed for Su-35 fighter, including 3M-14AE Club air-to-air missile or improved 3M-54AE/AE1 modification.
www.kommersant.com
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