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Fighter aircraft

China

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)

J-11B

A Chinese-built derivative of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27, initially license-produced and later indigenized with Chinese avionics, radar and weapons. The J-11B forms a large part of the PLA Air Force's air-superiority fighter fleet.

In service since 2007 · 1 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

2,350

km/h

3,530

km range

18,000

m ceiling

8,000

kg payload

1.1

T/W

Several performance figures for China-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Chinese state channel

State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.

Channel: State export agency

Fielded & proven

Limited · 1 operator

In service since 2007. Status: active · ~350 built.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Compatible munitions & weapons

Publicly reported weapons the J-11B can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.

PL-8 air-to-air missile PL-12 air-to-air missile

PL-15 air-to-air missile

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 2,350 km/h

Stronger than 70% of fighters
Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.: 2.2 Mach

Stronger than 71% of fighters
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 3,530 km

Stronger than 69% of fighters
Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range.: 1,500 km

Stronger than 85% of fighters
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 18,000 m

Stronger than 72% of fighters
Thrust-to-weight Engine thrust divided by loaded weight. Above 1.0 the aircraft can accelerate going straight up.: 1.1

Stronger than 84% of fighters

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 1x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon
Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.: 10

Stronger than 64% of fighters
Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.: 8,000 kg

Stronger than 63% of fighters

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 21.9 m
Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span.: 14.7 m
Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.: 5.9 m
Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.: 17,700 kg
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 23,926 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 1

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: 2x Shenyang WS-10A turbofans
Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.: 2
Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable).: 132 kN

Stronger than 78% of fighters
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Turbofan

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art.: Type 1493 pulse-Doppler radar

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 350

Stronger than 64% of fighters
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 1

Stronger than 23% of fighters

Specifications compiled from public Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B has a maximum speed of 2,350 km/h.

What is the range of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B has a maximum range of 3,530 km.

What is the weapons payload of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B can carry up to 8,000 kg of weapons payload.

How much does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B weigh? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B has a combat weight of 23,926 kg.

How many crew does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B require? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B requires a crew of 1.

What is the main armament of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B's primary weapon is the 1x 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon.

What engine does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B use? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B is powered by the 2x Shenyang WS-10A turbofans.

What is the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B used for? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B is a fighter aircraft typically used for air superiority.

How many countries operate the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B? +

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B cost? +

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11B: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.