Pictured above are People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter aircraft stationed at Wuhu, Anhui, in central China. The aircraft have been supplied with Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infra-red dogfight air-to-air missiles (AAMs) and the Vympel R-27R (AA10 Alamo ) semi-active-radar-guided beyond-visual-range AAMs. Also visible is a wingtip electronic-countermeasures pod, which appears to be the Sorbtsiya. These pods have been seen on the single-seat and Su-27UB trainer Flankers in Chinese service. Also supplied as part of the initial package was the B-8 rocket pod and a variety of iron bombs.
retarded bombs. China is thought to have taken delivery of 50 plus Su-27s and has concluded a licence-manufacture agreement with Russia to produce up to 200 Flankers, possibly the Su-27SMK model.
Source: Flight International
