On February 10, the Chinese Air Force continued to organize a H-6K formation for long-range training. Judging from the pictures released by China’s Air Force, the biggest highlight of this training is that the escort fighter aircraft was first served by J-11B/BS fighter, with the black radome as its main identification feature.
According to military analyst, this not only indicates that J-11B/BS has long-distance sea combat capabilities, but also indicates that China’s domestic Taihang engine has moved from being available to being heavily relied.
The J-11B and J-11BS fighters in this escort mission mounted domestic PL-12 active radar-guided air-to-air missiles and PL-8 infrared guided combat air-to-air missiles, demonstrating powerful combat capabilities, and providing strong protection for H-6K bombers.
The biggest feature of J-11B is the use of China’s domestic Taihang engine. Besides, its avionics system, vitrified cockpit, and airborne weapons have also been domestically produced. So its overall combat capability is better than that of Su-27SK, J-11 or Su-30MKK fighter.
Furthermore, J-11B/BS is also equipped with an advanced data link that can form a joint air combat system. Overseas sources believe that it is at the same level as the US LINK-16 data link. The LINK-16 data link is a centerless data link, which means that the fighter formation tactical data can be exchanged and shared among fighters.
In other words, in the absence of early warning aircraft, J-11BS fighter can play the role of early warning aircraft. Su-27SK / J-11 and Su-30MKK are equipped with data links that are behind the J-11B/11BS. Only AT-2E data link equipped with Su-35SK fighter can be compared with China’s domestic comprehensive data link. But Su-35SK needs to interconnect with domestic AWACS and fighter aircraft, otherwise its combat capabilities are limited.