Upgraded D variant of China's Shenyang J-11 fighter aircraft performed maiden flight 3004152

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World Defense & Security News - China
 
 
Upgraded D variant of China's Shenyang J-11 fighter aircraft performed maiden flight
 
The upgraded D variant of China’s J-11 fighter jet has made its maiden flight, Chinese media reported. The jet reportedly has new radar and an air refueling system. The J-11D model, which was tested in the air for the first time on Wednesday, is an upgraded variant, based on the J-11B, with an AESA radar and more composite materials. Its radar, EW systems, FBW systems, and communications equipment are the same as those aboard the Shenyang J-16.
     
The upgraded D variant of China’s J-11 fighter jet has made its maiden flight, Chinese media reported. The jet reportedly has new radar and an air refueling system. The J-11D model, which was tested in the air for the first time on Wednesday, is an upgraded variant, based on the J-11B, with an AESA radar and more composite materials. Its radar, EW systems, FBW systems, and communications equipment are the same as those aboard the Shenyang J-16.
Shenyang J-11D multirole fighter aircraft
     
The J-11D is reported to have better active phased array radar, use more composite materials in its wings and tail, and be capable of firing more advanced air-to-air missiles like PL-10 and PL-15.

Photos of the J-11D prototype tested at a Shenyang Aircraft Corporation airfield also showed an in-flight refueling probe installed on the port side similar to the arrangement used on J-15.

According to Chinese sources, the D variant is based on the earlier J-11B model, but the structure and avionics have been extensively modified. For this reason upgrading an existing J-11B to J-11D standard would not be possible

Shenyang J-11, or Jian-11, is a Chinese multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). China was the first foreign country to buy Russian Su-27s in the early 1990s. It is now a licensed-built variant of the Sukhoi Su-27SK (Nato code name: Flanker) fighter.

The J-11 has a maximum speed of Mach 2.35 and a range of 3,530km. The maximum flight speed at sea level without external weapons and stores is 1,400km/h.