Spotted Flying Solo: Y-9/Y-8Q GX6 Maritime Patrol and Anti-submarine Warfare Aircraft

Once again Chinese grey Y-8Q GX6 Maritime Patrol and Anti-submarine Warfare Aircraft was spotted flying. Serial number could not be confirmed as tree was in-front of aircraft's tail. The Y-8 GX6 MPA /ASW aircraft is based on four-engine turboprop Y-9 / Y-8 F-600 transport aircraft. 

A multi-mission surface search radar is mounted under the nose of the aircraft while an Electro-Optical (EO) / Infrared (IR) sensors turret fitted ahead of the internal weapons bay of aircraft. The Y-8 GX6 MPA /ASW aircraft  will be able to carry depth-charges, mines, torpedoes and anti-ship missiles in its internal weapons bays.

Lineup of Chinese Type 052C, Type 052D Guided Missile Destroyers & Type 054A Jiangkai-II Frigates

Spotted togather yesterday in lineup were Chinese Type 052C Air Defence Guided Missile Destroyer, two Type 052D Luyang III Class Guided Missile Destroyer and two Type 054A Jiangkai-II frigates.  Chinese Type 052C Guided Missile Destroyers can carry upto 48 HHQ-9 surface to air missiles while Type 052D Guided Missile Destroyer can carry upto 64 missiles.

Chinese J-16 Flanker-C Multirole Strike Fighter Aircraft

J-16 Flanker-C is an Chinese all-weather multirole strike fighter aircraft derived J-11 fighter jet aircraft prodced by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-16 is designed by SAC for medium range ground attack and anti-ship missile attack roles without relying on fighter escort or electronic-warfare aircraft.

The J-16 is Chinese equivalent of Russian made Su-30 Flanker fighter jet and it will be able to make full use of large range of Chinese air to surface precision guided weapons and missiles.

D1101 Prototype of J-11D Sino-Flanker Fighter jet With Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar

Most advance version of Sino J-11 Flanker fighter jet has been recently spotted. This new version of Sino-Flanker has be designated J-11D as it is speculated to have Chinese active electronically scanned array (AESA) inside its upwardly canted radar dome. 

The "D1101" prototype of J-11D Sino-Flanker was first spotted on April 29, 2015, powered by two WS-10A engines at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) airfield. 

The J-11D Flanker fighter jet with improved  fly-by-wire (FBW) system and increased the usage of composites in the fuselage to cut overall weight of aircraft will result in increased maneuverability and control. The Infrared Search and Tracking (IRST) system has been moved to starboard side of the windshield, and retractable inflight refueling (IFR) probe was installed on the port side.

The J-11D will be able to carry new generation Chinese missiles like fifth generation PL-10 within visual range (WVR) high agility infrared homing air-to-air missile, Pl-12 / PL-15 Beyond Visual Range (BVR)  missile and YJ-12 long range supersonic anti-ship cruise missile

The AESA radar for aircraft is developed by the 14th Institute and was tested on-board a modified J-11B fighter jet in 2014.

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) has produced licensed version of Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jet under designation of J-11 and later on started producing improved version under designation J-11B to make use of local engines, composite materials, radar, avionics, and weapons. 

China has also developed J-15 Flying Shark carrier borne fighter jet for operations from CV-16 Liaoning Aircraft Carrier of PLA Navy.

PLA Navy Commissioned 20th Type 056 Jiangdao-Class Corvette

People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)  has commissioned 黄石 / Huangshi, a Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette into its North Sea Fleet in a ceremony which took place at Weihai maritime garrison. The 502 Huangshi was constructed at the Shanghai Hudong shipyard,

 The 90 m Huangshi like its sister ships features a stealthy hull design to reduced radar cross section. It has displacement of 1500 tonnes and it combine a stealth design with 76 mm main gun, 2x triple-tube torpedo launchers, and 4x YJ-83 medium range anti-ship cruise missiles. Its flight deck is capable of handling Z-9C helicopter.

 Huangshi is the  20th Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette to be commissioned by People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and it is 4th ship to be fitted with towed array and variable depth sonars for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role.