By Bharat Lather
Issue: Net Edition | Date : 16 May , 2016
For India, the Sino-Pakistan Nexus continues to threaten its national security. Both China and Pakistan have disputes with India, which remains unresolved; whether it is Pakistan’s protracted stand on Kashmir or the problem in demarcating McMahon Line, which continues to remain ‘Bone of contention’ between India and China.
Tensions in the South China Sea and continued warnings about Chinese militarization of the disputed areas (Paracels and Spratlys) have led USA and its allies to sharpen focus on Chinese Air Force acquisitions and technological advances.
The PLAAF currently has approximately 2,200 operational aircraft, nearly 600 of which are considered modern.
The U.S. Air Force’s technological air power superiority over China is rapidly diminishing in light of rapid Chinese modernization of fighter jets, missiles, air-to-air weapons, cargo planes and stealth aircraft. The PLAAF currently has approximately 2,200 operational aircraft, nearly 600 of which are considered modern.
In the early 1990s, soon after the disintegration of Former Soviet Union(Presently Russia) in 1991, Beijing began a comprehensive modernization program to upgrade the PLA Air Force from a short-range, defensively oriented force with limited capabilities into a modern, multi-role force capable of projecting precision airpower beyond China’s borders, conducting air and missile defense and providing early warning
Regarding stealth aircraft, the recent flights of prototypes of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter, calling the aircraft more advanced than any other air platform currently deployed in the Asia-Pacific region. The J-20 5th Generation fighter jets would be deployed by 2018; as the production of these jets have already started. The Chinese are also testing a smaller stealth fighter variant called the J-31 although its intended use is unclear.
The U.S. technological advantage in air platforms is rapidly decreasing, which can be easily illustrated through U.S.-Chinese fighter jets to one another roughly twenty years ago versus a similar comparison today. In 1995 a high-tech U.S. F-15, F-16 or F/A-18 would be vastly superior to a Chinese J-6, J-7 aircrafts. However today — China’s J-10 and J-11 fighter jet aircraft would be roughly equivalent in capability to an upgraded U.S. F-15 and F-16 jets.
The J-11D’s upgrades allow it to take full advantage of new PLAAF capabilities, and in turn, extend those capabilities further.
Chinese remain highly secretive about their military aviation projects, any information reaches to open-source domain is through online Chinese military forums. Moreover, China’s latest J-11D fighter aircraft can easily defeat America’s 4th Generation fighter jets as well as can compete against F-22 and F-35 fighter jets. The J-11D’s most noticeable upgrade is an upwardly canted radar dome, which carries an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, as well as further use of composites and stealth coatings in the fuselage to reduce weight. The J-11D’s upgrades allow it to take full advantage of new PLAAF capabilities, and in turn, extend those capabilities further. For example, the IFR probe would enable aerial refueling from an Il-78 tanker, extending both the aerial patrol time and range of the fighter. The AESA radar offers key advantages over older, conventionally scanned radar; it’s more resistant against electronic jamming, offers higher resolution when targeting stealthy aircraft, and has greater range.
The J-11D’s data links would enable it to share its radar data with other Chinese aircraft and ships. The J-11D’s greater weapons payload would include long range weapons (PL-15,YJ-12)that could then be guided by other systems with longer ranged sensors, like the KJ-500,KJ-5000 airborne early warning radar planes. Ironically, Russia’s most deadly and latest fighter jet, the Su-35 uses a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, which is an older and generally less flexible technology and is prone to jamming during an electronic warfare.
The J-11D which is regarded 4.5th Generation jet, is definitely a significant achievement for China in modernizing its massive fleet of Sukhoi Flankers; which has even outclassed the Russian aviation industry, regarded as the origin of Sukhoi’s. On the other hand, India’s Su-30MKI’s pose no threat to PLAAF. Even the basic version of Chinese made Sukhoi Flankers i.e. J-11 (upgraded version of Russian Su-27) can outclass Indian Su-30MKI’s, both in terms of range and payload.
China successfully test fired its latest iteration, the PL-15, firing from a fighter to destroy a target drone. It is the replacement for China’s current BVRAAM, the radar guided, PL-12, which reportedly has a range of approximately 100km.
China’s beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM)
Beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) are long-range missiles used by fighters to knock out enemy fighters, bombers, tankers, drones and other aircraft from ranges beyond 30km. On September 15, 2015, China successfully test fired its latest iteration, the PL-15, firing from a fighter to destroy a target drone. The PL-15 is developed by the 607 Institute. It is the replacement for China’s current BVRAAM, the radar guided, PL-12, which reportedly has a range of approximately 100km. Compared to the PL-12, the PL-15 has an improved active radar seeker and jam-resistant data links, along with a dual pulse rocket motor to extend its range. Even in the prototype stage, the PL-15 is already an international star.
Speaking at the 2015 Air Force Association conference the same week as the test, USAF Air Combatant Commander General Hawk Carlisle cited the PL-15 as the reason for Congress to fund a new missile to replace the American AMRAAM. His reason for concern is the PL-15′s range. By incorporating a ramjet engine, its range could reach 150-200km, was well as its terminal maneuverability. That would out-range existing American air-to-air missiles, making the PL-15 not just a threat to fighters like the F-35, but also to US bombers and aerial tankers critical to American air operations across the vast Pacific. As the PL-15 moves to deployment stage, it will equip Chinese stealth fighter jets, such as the J-20 and J-31, as well as the older J-10, J-11, J-15 and J-16 fighters.
China’s broader approach
The story of China’s achievements in the aviation industry doesn’t end here; Y-20 aircraft, a new strategic airlifter now being tested by the Chinese which has three times the cargo-carrying capacity of the U.S. Air Force’s C-130. Some of these new planes could be configured into tanker aircraft, allowing the Chinese to massively increase their reach and ability to project air power over longer distances.
At the moment, the Chinese do not have a sizeable or modern fleet of tankers and many of their current aircraft are not engineered for aerial refueling, a scenario which limits their reach.
The HQ-9 SAM Missile system would bolster the power of China; and would eventually allow Chinese fighter jets to patrol with more freedom over South China Sea
Until the PLA Navy’s first carrier-based aviation wing becomes operational, China must use air refueling tankers to enable air operations at these distances from China. However, China’s current fleet of air refueling aircraft, which consists of only about 12 1950s-era H–6U tankers, is too small to support sustained, large-scale, long-distance air combat. But China seems to be working on it’s weakness by rapidly militarizing the islands of South China Sea, particularly Woody Island (Paracels) and Fiery Cross, Subi, Cuarteron and Mischief Reefs (Spratlys),respectively. The airstrip built on these reefs would allow PLAAF to operate away from its homeland. It has further increased PLAAF’s reach till Malacca Strait an important choke point as well as the entry gate of South China Sea, from where 5.3 trillions of world trade passes annually.
The recent deployment of HQ-9 (Hongqi-9) air and missile defense system to Woody Island (Paracels); has a range of 125 miles (200km) and can engage targets flying at 90,000ft, and can simultaneously destroy 6 airborne targets, and track up to 80 targets. The HQ-9 Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile system would bolster the power of China; and would eventually allow Chinese fighter jets to patrol with more freedom over South China Sea. The installation of high-frequency radar on Cuarteron Reef (Spratlys) would allow Chinese fighter jets to track even the stealthiest American warplanes, including the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and even the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.
Russian assistance
Russian sales of advanced weapons to China, including modern combat aircraft (Su-35), are not new. Indeed, throughout the post-Soviet period, China has been one of Russia’s most important customers for arms exports. The Chinese have been purchasing systems, such as the Su-27 fighter jet, and advanced surface-to-air missiles (S-300), from Russia for over a decade.
…it is a win-win situation for China as the Su-35 would fill the vacuum in the PLAAF capabilities; before J-11D and J-20 gets operational.
The arms relationship serves both countries, as Russia has depended on foreign sales to maintain parts of its defense industrial base, and China, with a steadily growing military budget, has been in search of advanced weapons that Western nations are unwilling to sell it. The agreement for Su-35 Fighter jets includes not only the supply of 24 jets to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) for a total of $2 billion ($83 million per unit) but also the delivery of ground support equipment and reserve aircraft engines. The first batch of the planes, with the NATO reporting name Flanker-E, is expected to be delivered by mid of this year. At the end of the day it is a win-win situation for China as the Su-35 would fill the vacuum in the PLAAF capabilities; before J-11D and J-20 gets operational.
Su-35 a versatile, highly capable aircraft that would offer significantly improved range and fuel capacity over China’s current fighters. The aircraft thus would strengthen China’s ability to conduct air superiority missions in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea as well as it will provide China with the opportunity to reverse engineer the fighter’s component parts, including its advanced radar and engines, for integration into China’s current and future indigenous fighters, which it had been doing in the past.
Pakistan extracting benefits from its ‘All-Weather Friend’ China
China taking a central role in meeting Pakistan’s present and future defense needs should not surprise anyone, especially in light of high-profile programs such as the JF-17 Thunder, which is on-track to forming the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)’s fighter fleet. In fact, China has been a major source of arms for Pakistan since 1965, when a war with India cost Pakistan its access to U.S aid and arms, prompting it to seek out other vendors to meet its defense needs.
In order to contain India; the Chinese continues to arm Pakistan’s JF-17s with fear-some missiles which cannot be overlooked.
With U.S sanctions in place, Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Nur Khan oversaw the pursuit and induction of Chinese and French fighters to augment (and in time, supplant) the PAF’s fleet of exclusively American jets, such as the combat proven F-86 Sabre. The Shenyang F-6, a licensed Chinese copy of the Soviet MiG-19, was bought to supplement the F-86 fleet as a workhorse fighter. In 1967 the PAF integrated the AIM-9 Sidewinder within-visual-range air-to-air missile (WVRAAM) onto the F-6. The F-6 went on to fly 650 sorties in the 1971 War, and – according to the PAF – had succeeded in shooting down a handful of newer fighters of IAF (Indian Air Force), such as the MiG-21 and Su-7.
This one example alone offers several lessons on how the Air Force viewed Chinese equipment. The F-6 was not the paragon of military aviation in the 1960s and 1970s, but to the PAF, it was a viable enough platform worth investing in as a means to build numerical capacity without greatly compromising on quality. With the right modifications and upgrades, the F-6 was capable of effectively undertaking air-to-ground missions alongside serving as an admirably credible air defense fighter (to varying degrees). It is a similar story with the F-6’s successor, the MiG-21-based F-7P, and the F-7P’s replacement, the JF-17 Thunder. The Chinese assistance still does not end here.
In order to contain India; the Chinese continues to arm Pakistan’s JF-17s with fear-some missiles which cannot be overlooked. The SD-10 is an active radar-guided BVRAAM (Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile) with an approximate range of at least 100km. It functions in a similar manner to the AIM-120C5 (in use with the PAF’s F-16 Block-52+ and MLUs). The SD-10 is equipped with an active radar-guidance seeker as well as data-link supported inertial guidance system. The latter enables the SD-10 to be deployed mid-way to its prospective target, and in a later stage (i.e. the terminal or final stage) the active radar-guidance seeker can kick in to engage the target.
Another defense strengthening step has been taken by Pakistan, is that the PAF had inducted five Chinese made ZDK-03 AWACS aircraft into its inventory till now, a system that would give the PAF eagle eyes in the skies.
Then comes PL-5EII made by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) as an improved 3rd generation short-range IR air-to-air missile, which features good anti-jamming capability and all-aspect attack capability. The PL-5EII comes in the same general category as the AIM-9M (which is also used by the PAF’s Block-52+ and MLU F-16s).
In the context of naval warfare, China had armed Pakistan’s JF-17s with C-802A and CM-400AKG is anti-ship missiles (AShM). Both are, at heart, stand-off weapons in that they possess engagement ranges of 250-300km. The C-802A is in line with emulating the Harpoon and Exocet-series of AShM, but the CM-400AKG is marketed as a hypersonic (Mach 4) missile designed to engage large ships such as aircraft carriers. Thus due to an enormous assistance from China; it has transformed Pakistani JF-17 fighter aircraft into a multi-role combat aircraft.
With JF-17s giving satisfying results to PAF (thanks to Chinese assistance), it is now more unlikely that Pakistan will induct new fighter aircraft types such as the Chengdu J-10 or Su-35 into the PAF, given the logistical difficulties, extra maintenance cost, and additional training requirements that a new fighter aircraft acquisition would entail. The PAF currently operates 65 Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder combat aircrafts. Should the F-16 deal fall through, the PAF is more likely to invest in its JF-17 block 3 Program than to opt for new Chinese or Russian models.
Another defense strengthening step has been taken by Pakistan, is that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had inducted five Chinese made ZDK-03 AWACS (Airborne-Warning and Control System) aircraft into its inventory till now, a system that would give the PAF eagle eyes in the skies. The aircraft, ZDK-03, a variant developed to meet Pakistani requirements which is equipped with a Chinese AESA radar, mounted on the Shaanxi Y-8F600 four turboprop transport aircraft, a Chinese variant of the Russian An-22 transport aircraft.
In a war scenario with China, an aircraft such as PAK-FA would be an ideal for missions deep into Tibet, where Beijing has got good border infrastructure that pose threat to India.
Apart from five Chinese made ZDK-03 AWACS (Airborne-Warning and Control System) aircrafts; Pakistan has three Saab 2000 Aircrafts acquired from Sweden. The ZDK-03 is also equipped with a sophisticated ESM system that can intercept and analyze signals from airborne and surface emitters, giving the PAF stand-off warnings against possible air threats. The system can also monitor Indian vessel movement in the sea and simultaneously coordinates the in-Flight Fighter – aircrafts with Ground-base and with other friendly Aircrafts. Its long-ranged radar which can detect up to 450km would enable Pakistani crew to carry out reconnaissance mission deep inside Indian Territory while flying within its own airspace.
In the context of Pakistan, due to lack of strategic depth; Chinese made AWACS has provided Pakistan with highly sophisticated surveillance capability.
India’s context
In the context of India, The Sino-Pakistan Nexus continues to threaten its national security. Both China and Pakistan have disputes with India, which remains unresolved; whether it is Pakistan’s protracted stand on Kashmir or the problem in demarcating McMahon Line, which continues to remain ‘Bone of contention’ between India and China.
Indo-Russian fifth generation fighter aircraft (FRGA) i.e. PAK-FA is an ideal solution for India in dealing with China and Pakistan, simultaneously. Moreover, if the technical difficulties can be worked out, it would come out as a major defense deal between India and Russia, since 2000; wherein India and Russia signed a deal worth more than $3 billion for the licensed manufacture of 140 Sukhoi-30MKI jet aircraft at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). If the similar India-Russia deal could be concluded on PAK-FA, New Delhi could be operating over 200 PAK-FA’s in the next two decades. In a war scenario with China, an aircraft such as PAK-FA would be an ideal for missions deep into Tibet, where Beijing has got good border infrastructure that pose threat to India. Therefore, for the revival of IAF (Indian Air Force), PAK-FA is a necessity.
More Recently, India has dismissed a proposal made by Lockheed Martin Corp to build F-16V (block 60) fighter jets in India. India’s defense minister Manohar Parrikar expressed that India is not interested in acquiring US F-16V fighter aircrafts despite strong lobbying by Lockheed Martin. In what can be seen as a sharp denial to the US. Had the F-16V deal been concluded between India and USA; ‘Make in India’ Project would have benefitted IAF, which is struggling to maintain a required number of squadrons.
© Copyright 2016 Indian Defence Review
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