In 1984 the Soviet's startet to develop a carrier based aircraft called Su-27K because the VTOL-Fighter Yak-38 (used on kiev-class aircraft carriers) was not really equal to the US Navy's F-4 Phantom II or the F-14, that replaced the Phantom's in this time.

Since 1994 this aircraft is in use. Novadays China is interessted in bying the latest export version (Su-33MK).

If someone here has more information on this, I, as aircraft fanatic, would be happy

Probably not

It doesn't matter anyway, Tomcats will be gone by 2007.

It doesn't matter if it's better than the Tomcat...now it has to beat the F/A-18F.

or the up-and-coming F/A-22

Originally Posted by ghost457

or the up-and-coming F/A-22

no since this is a comparison of carrier-borne fighters

Originally Posted by queens_ranger

no since this is a comparison of carrier-borne fighters

Oh fine Queenie, bring reality into the discussion.
Macoy, check out Jane's weapons and some of the other links in the thread about good sites on the net for all things military hey.

I have a bad feeling this one will soon degenerate into another pi$$ing match about who's uncle's sister's cousin's best friend was a better fighter pilot on Microsoft's Combat simulator in the online all world non-casualty world war in 1988 during spring break in Cancun after consuming "jump juice" made in the bathtub by a lil man named Hector and his transsexual love slave Consuela.

Don't you bring Consuela into this!

In all seriousness though, one large advantage the United States would have in a hypothetical aerial battle with China is simple numerical superiority. Not to mention additional qualitative advantages over Chinese aircraft. Especially once the Navy/Marine version JSF starts to appear in force. China simply doesn't have the technological or industrial capability to keep pace with the United States at this point.

Originally Posted by PershingOfLSU

In all seriousness though, one large advantage the United States would have in a hypothetical aerial battle with the United States is simple numerical superiority.

That's it you're cut off, no more jump juice for Pershing.

Originally Posted by PershingOfLSU

Don't you bring Consuela into this!

In all seriousness though, one large advantage the United States would have in a hypothetical aerial battle with China is simple numerical superiority.

in all seriousness

the US would run out of missiles long before PLAAF, the world's largest airforce; runs out of aircrafts

http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/how.../armies/an.asp

http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/how.../armies/ea.asp

The info is a year or two old but i doubt China could more than double its airfoce in 2 years.

American aircraft: 7600

Chinese aircraft: 3300

Now lets say half of the american aircraft are support (no facts to back it up but the US probally has many more combat aircraft than support) so that leaves 3800 aircraft. Lets take another 1000 and say there helicopters. That leaves 2800 aircraft. lets be realstic here and say one american aircraft can take down two chinese aircraft. If my math is correct that leaves 1150 american aircraft left over.

Like many of my statements on this board your statement is completely absurd.

On the subject of the F-14, your forgetting it was built as an air superiority fighter. It also has some advanced electronics and some of the best air to air weapons in the world.

on a side note, Does anyone know if the USAF dog fighting program at Miramar is still operational. If so what planes do they use. Sorry thinking of the F-14 brought back Top Gun memorys.