China’s Air Power Future Is Visible in These Two Photos -- David Axe, War Is Boring
Snapshots reveal badly-needed new engine and refueling pod.
Two photographs posted to the Internet in early January reveal much-needed advancements for the Chinese Air Force and Navy. If the photos really do show what they appear to show, Beijing could soon have the ability to carry out long-range carrier air strikes and transport missions—a combination that, at present, only the United States can undertake on a large scale.
The photo above appears to depict an air-to-air refueling pod underneath the center fuselage of a J-15 carrier-launched jet fighter. The pod, which includes a hose that can be reeled in and out and trailed behind the jet, transforms any J-15 carrying it into a refueling tanker able to give fuel to other fighters, thus extending their range.
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My Comment: David Axe's analysis is spot on .... read it all.
2 comments:
"If Lioaning’s air wing—ultimately including probably a dozen or more J-15s plus helicopters—has enough refueling pods and its pilots are good at using them, it might be able to launch effective air strikes over distances possibly equal to what American and French wings can accomplish. Suddenly Liaoning is more than an experimental vessel. She could be actually useful in combat."
No. it takes a LOT more than AAR to launch any air strikes, let alone EFFECTIVE airstrikes.
I am looking at this from a viewpoint of trends. And while it is true that the Chinese Air Force of today is no match against the U.S. Air Force .... the Chinese are looking at what they are trying to develop from a 10, 20, 30 year time frame. From this perspective .... we should be very concerned.
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