Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Su-33>HA6408

General Background

The J-15 is a Chinese twin-engine all-weather carrier-based fighter manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in cooperation with the 601 Institute for the Chinese PLAN aircraft carriers. In China the J-15 is known as the Flying Shark with a NATO designation of Flanker-X2. The J-15 has the same basic airframe design as the Su-33. When the jet entered service in 2015 it was compared to the U.S. Navy’s two-seat FA-18 Super Hornet fighter. In 2018 it was announced the J-15 would stop production for the J-15B.

The Aircraft

By 2012 the Russian Naval Aviation consisted of Su-33 fighters and Su-25UTG attack aircraft belonging to the 279th Regiment that formed the Admiral Kuznetzov carrier air wing. Also considered as part of this group were the Su-24 bombers based in the Crimea. Established in 1973 as the 279th Independent Shipborne Assault Aviation Regiment but in 1990 it became a maritime Assault Aviation Regiment. In 1993 the unit absorbed the 100th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment so the 279 th was renamed the 279 th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment based at Severomorsk-3, Murmansk Oblast.

Specifications :

First Flight:	August 31, 2009
In Service:	2013
Crew:	1 – 2
Dimensions
Length:	21.19 m (72 ft)
Wingspan:	Down – 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
	Folded – 8.4 m (27.56 ft)
	Height – 5.9 m (19.42 ft)
Weights:	Empty – 175,000 kg (38,600 lb)
	Loaded – 27,000 kg (60,000 lb)
	Maximum Takeoff – 33,000 kg (72,752 lb)
Performance:	Powerplants – 2 X Modified WS-10 Variants Producing 132kN Each
	Maximum Speed – Mach 2.4 (2,940 kph 1,826 mph)
	Ferry Range – 3,500 km (2,175 miles)
Armament:	Cannon – 1 X 30 mm GSh-30-1 With 150 Rounds
	Munitions On 12 External Hardpoints
	8 X PL-12 or R-77 And
	4 X PL-9 Or R-73 Air-To-Air Missiles
	YJ-62 Or Kh-41 Anti-Ship Missiles
	YJ-91 Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles
	ECM Pods
	Various Bombs And Rockets