Friday

China Builds A Super Heat Seeker


A new air-to-air missile (PL-10) has been seen on Chinese J-11B fighters. The PL-10 looks very similar to the South African A-Darter. This is an 89 kg (196 pound), three meter (9.3 foot) long heat seeking missiles that is highly maneuverable and resistant to countermeasures. The A-Darter is not yet in service, but is designed to be similar to the U.S. AIM-9X. A-Darter is being developed in cooperation with Brazil. It’s not known if PL-10 is actually in service. It has been described and discussed for at least three years.
The J-11 is a clone of the Russian Su-27. The J-11A is being supplanted by the J-11B. At least two squadrons of J-11Bs are in service with the air force. The original J-11 entered service in 1998, but production was very slow and only a hundred were produced. Chinese officials were dismayed with the performance of the obsolete Russian electronics. After that, at least a hundred of the 33 ton J-11A was built. This model was equipped with modern, Chinese made, electronics and is capable of using up to eight tons of radar guided air-to-air missiles and smart bombs. But the J-11B, while the same size and weight as the J-11A, has a more capable AESA radar and is intended to specialize in air-to-ground missions, while also being able to take care of itself in air-to-air combat. The navy is using a beefed up version of the J-11B (the J-11BH) on its carriers.
There appear to be about 200 J-11s in service, with about 40 percent of them J-11Bs. This is deduced by the number of cell phone photos showing up, from different air force and navy air bases.

Javelin Turns VAB Into An Anti-Tank Weapon


France has bought American Javelin missile systems for use in French VAB armored vehicles serving in Afghanistan. At least ten of the 13 ton, 4x4 VAB wheeled armored vehicles are being equipped with six Javelin missiles and two launchers each. A Javelin system consists of a launcher (or CLU, for Command Launch Unit) and several missiles. This weapon was first used during 2003 invasion of Iraq. It is a "fire and forget" missile with a 2,500 meter range and the ability to knock out most armored vehicles (except for the most modern ones, and then only having problems when hitting their frontal armor.)
Several hundred Javelins were fired in 2003, and several thousand to date. One advantage of the Javelin is its weight. The sight and firing unit (CLU) weighs 6.8 kg (15 pounds), while the missile, which comes in a sealed, 6.1 kg (13.5 pound) firing tube, weighs 9.8 kg (21.5 pounds). What the troops really like is the simplicity (you get the target in the cross hairs, pull the trigger, and that's that) and reliability of the system. French troops saw the Javelin in action in Afghanistan, and eventually, an order was placed.
The only down side is that each missile costs over $80,000. Simplicity and reliability come at a price. But throw a CLU and a few missile tubes (each is about a meter, or 42 inches, long) into the back of a vehicle, and you're ready to take out armored vehicles, a bunker or a building the bad guys won't come out of. The CLU also makes an excellent night vision device, and troops often use it that way with great success.
This was not the first upgrade for the VABs in Afghanistan. Three years ago, France ordered fifty Kongsberg PROTECTOR Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) for use on its VAB (which normally carries a 12.7mm machine-gun, and this weapon will be installed in the RWS). The RWS has proved to be a real life saver, not to mention anxiety reducer, for troops who drive through bandit country a lot, and man the turret gun. You're a target up there, and too often, the bad guys get you. Not with an RWS. The gunner is inside the vehicle, checking out the surroundings (with night vision and telephoto capabilities). The RWS also has a laser rangefinder built in, as well as a stabilizer mechanism to allow more accurate fire while the vehicle is moving. These systems cost about a quarter million dollars each, and can mount a variety of weapons (M2 12.7mm caliber machine-gun, MK19 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, M240B 7.62mm machine-gun and M249 5.56mm squad automatic weapon).
Since many troops have years of experience with video games, they take to the RWS quickly, and very effectively. The U.S. Army has already bought over 7,000 of the Kongsberg RWS. The French plan to eventually buy over 300.
source 

PLAAF's J-20 Mighty Dragon 5th Gen Stealth Fighter Jet



The PLAAF's J-20 Mighty Dragon 5th generation fighter jet flew for the first time on January 11, 2011 over the Chengdu. It is powered by two indigenously developed WS-10G turbofan engines.
The prototype of the J-20 Mighty Dragon uses twin all-moving tailfins and ventral stabilizing fins.J-20's forward fuselage has been optimized like the US F-22 Raptor to reduce the frontal Radar cross section (RCS) of the aircraft.

J-20 fighter jet have a large belly weapon bay and two smaller lateral weapon bays for short/long-range AAMs (up to 8 PL-10 WVRAAM, PL-12C/D BVRAAM & Ramjet PL-21 BVRAAM).

Test Firing of HQ-16 (LY-80) Surface to Air Missile System


Chinese HQ-16 is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system which can be launched vertically. 
Vertically launched HQ-16 SAM has range of over 40 kilometers and a single launcher can carry six HQ-16 surface to air missiles.


Vertically launched HHQ-16 is a highly  maneuverability anti-air missile system which can engage extremely low flying targets flying due to its high speed of Mach 4.


People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is using the HHQ-16 SAM on its Type 054A Jiangkai II class frigates.