More "bad guys"

Judging from this publicly released photo of a J-10S sporting a serial number of 60x8x, it seems that PLAAF's 1st "Blue Army" Regiment, Flight Test & Training Center, is increasing in size to take on more twin-seaters for its training curriculum.

As the PLAAF takes on more modern fighters into its orbat, it is logistical to assume its training infrastructure would increase in due course.

Previous entry  on the "Bad Guys" of the PLAAF.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2010/02/bad-guy-su-30mkk-of-plaaf-8th-flight.html

"Bad guy" Su-30MKK of the PLAAF 8th Flight Academy (61x8x).

The 8th PLAAF Flight Academy is home to the SU-30MKK fighter-bomber "Blue-Army Aggressor Squadron." It is trained to act as the "bad guy" in war-games by simulating the US F-15E or other SU-30 equipped Asian air forces.

There are a total of three Blue-Army Aggressor squadrons under the PLAAF orbat; the other two are equipped with J-10A (60x8x) and J-7E (15xxx) to simulate lighter, single engine, opponents. These squadrons operate under the PLAAF Flight Test & Training Base (FT&TB) at Cangzhou Airbase in Hebei.

The first PLAAF aggressor squadron was commissioned in June 1987 (here) and was modeled after the US "Top Gun" and "Red Flag" schools. It has been serving as a grindstone for sharpening pilot combat skills ever since. Yup, they are putting their skills acquired from the Moscow Pilot School to good use. (here)

Su-30MKK (61x8x) Aggressor Squadron

Which one is Goose?

J-10A (60x8x) Aggressor Squadron

J-7E (15xxx) Aggressor Squadron