An aviation regiment assigned to the Naval Aviation University of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army recently carried out a live-fire ground attack training assessment using J-11B fighter jets.
In the video released by China Military, the pilots can be seen taking part in an activity focused on employing weapons against ground targets, in an exercise that combines mission planning, tactical navigation and visual attack.
During the assessment, the pilots were responsible for independently planning flight routes and penetration tactics, as well as selecting the weapons to be used against the targets. The options included cannons and rockets, used in attacks against ground objectives.
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What is the J-11B?
The J-11B is a Chinese twin-engine fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation from the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 family. Although it originates from the Soviet/Russian design, the J-11B version began incorporating a greater share of Chinese systems, including avionics, weapons integration and, in more recent versions, domestic engines from the WS-10 family.
The model is generally classified as a heavy air-superiority fighter, but it can also perform ground attack missions, as demonstrated in the released training footage. Its size, twin-engine configuration and long range place it in a category above light fighters such as the F-16, bringing it closer to larger Western aircraft more focused on air defense and multirole operations.
Which Western fighters are comparable to the J-11B?
In terms of category and role, the J-11B can mainly be compared to fourth-generation or 4.5-generation Western fighters, especially those with an air-superiority or heavy multirole profile.
Among the closest models are the F-15 Eagle and its modernized versions, as it is also a heavy twin-engine fighter originally developed for air superiority. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet can also be cited as a Western reference, although it has a carrier-based origin and a different operational concept. The Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale also fit into the comparison because they are modern, twin-engine, multirole fighters, even though they are smaller and follow different design philosophies.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon, on the other hand, is not a direct equivalent to the J-11B. Although it can perform similar missions in some scenarios, it is a lighter single-engine fighter. The same applies to the F-35, which belongs to a newer generation and was designed with a focus on stealth and network-centric warfare, making it not a direct comparison in terms of its original concept.
Training tests aiming, flying skills and adaptation
According to China Military, visual ground attack training is considered a fundamental stage in pilots’ operational formation, as it allows essential flying, aiming and decision-making skills to be tested under conditions close to combat.
The activity also aimed to strengthen the pilots’ psychological resilience and expand their flexibility during missions, especially in scenarios where it is necessary to quickly adapt the route, attack profile and use of weapons.
The exercise reinforces the emphasis of Chinese military aviation on practical live-fire training, focused on improving the capabilities of its pilots in ground attack missions.
Source and video: China Military. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
