PLAAF JH-7 Flounder bombers harassed a NATO member’s warship

On June 7, the Chinese language Individuals’s Liberation Army Air Pressure [PLAAF] deployed two Xi’an JH-7 fighter jets, generally referred to as Flounder, and a Z-19 mild reconnaissance helicopter to the East China Sea. They encountered the Royal Netherlands Navy’s De Zeven Provincien-class frigate. Based on the Netherlands Ministry of Protection, these aggressive aerial maneuvers by the Chinese language plane compelled the Dutch frigate to take evasive actions. 

The frigate, HNLMS Tromp, was on a mission to implement maritime sanctions towards North Korea as mandated by UN Safety Council resolutions. Whereas patrolling, two Chinese language fighter jets repeatedly circled the frigate, making a tense scenario. The Protection Ministry’s assertion detailed these encounters however didn’t specify the precise sort of Chinese language plane concerned. 

Along with its superior radar techniques, the frigate was outfitted with an NH90 naval fight chopper. The Dutch Ministry of Protection famous that this helicopter was additionally subjected to Chinese language aerial surveillance. The Z-19 circled the NH90 a number of occasions, heightening the already precarious scenario and additional escalating tensions.

Picture credit score: Twitter

Beijing shortly countered Amsterdam’s claims. Chinese language Protection Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang addressed reporters on Tuesday, asserting that Amsterdam aimed to “cowl up the violation” of China’s maritime rights. He accused the Dutch of falsely claiming to be conducting a UN mission and demonstrating pressure in waters and airspace below Chinese language jurisdiction. This dispute mirrors a current incident the place a Individuals’s Liberation Army fighter jet discharged flares into the flight path of an Australian helicopter, additionally engaged in imposing UN sanctions. 

Reflecting on a previous occasion, on the finish of Could 2022, stress escalated over the South China Sea between a Chinese language Individuals’s Liberation Army Shenyang J-16 fighter and an Australian Air Pressure P-8A Poseidon. On Could 26, a Chinese language J-16 fighter aligned parallel and on the identical altitude to the left of a patrolling Australian P-8A Poseidon.

A Chinese language J-16 fighter jet embarks on a coaching mission to intercept an airborne decoy. Throughout this tense train, as the 2 plane draw shut, the Chinese language jet fires missiles towards the decoy. The scenario escalates because the fighter then executes a hazardous maneuver, accelerating and crossing straight beneath the Australian P-8A Poseidon’s flight path. 

Chinese J-16 fighter cuts across the nose of US RC-135 aircraft
Video screenshot

The incident intensifies additional when remnants of the Chinese language decoy get caught within the engine of the Australian P-8A Poseidon. Luckily, the engine stays undamaged, permitting the Australian pilots to securely navigate again to their army base. 

In its annual report on China’s army capabilities final 12 months, the US Protection Division famous over 280 dangerous and coercive aerial interceptions of US and allied plane by Chinese language jets since 2021. 

The Chinese language JH-7, also called the ‘Flying Leopard,’ is a twin-engine fighter-bomber made by the Xi’an Plane Industrial Company. It’s meant for each floor assault and anti-ship missions, making it a flexible addition to China’s army aviation. The JH-7 is about 73 toes lengthy, has a wingspan of 42 toes, and stands 20 toes tall. These dimensions assist it carry a number of weapons and be very versatile in several missions. 

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Picture credit score: PLAAF

The JH-7 is powered by two turbofan engines, which give it a prime velocity of about 1,335 mph [Mach 1.75] and allow it to fly as much as 52,500 toes excessive. The JH-7 has a powerful airframe that may deal with powerful fight conditions. It additionally has a sophisticated fly-by-wire management system, boosting its agility. Moreover, it could possibly refuel in mid-air, which extends how far and lengthy it could possibly carry out missions.

The JH-7 is filled with superior electronics. It has a radar that may monitor a number of targets, a head-up show [HUD] to assist pilots keep conscious, and an digital warfare [EW] system to guard towards enemy radar and missiles. These options make the JH-7 efficient in powerful fight conditions. 

The JH-7 has a strong set of weapons. It may possibly carry bombs, anti-ship missiles, and rockets for each air-to-ground and air-to-sea assaults. It additionally has a 23mm twin-barrel cannon for shut fight and strafing. This wide selection of weapons lets the JH-7 hit many kinds of targets precisely. It may possibly fly as much as 1,650 kilometers [1,025 miles] in fight with out refueling.

Chinese fighter bomber jh-7
Picture by Dmitriy Pichugin

The Dutch frigate, HNLMS Tromp, is a part of the De Zeven Provinciën-class of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It’s fairly massive for a frigate, with an general size of about 473 toes, a beam of 62 toes, and a draft of 17 toes. These dimensions make it one of many larger frigates in service. 

HNLMS Tromp makes use of a Mixed Diesel and Fuel [CODAG] propulsion system. It has two Wärtsilä diesel engines and two Rolls-Royce Spey gasoline generators, producing round 52,000 horsepower. This setup permits the frigate to achieve speeds of as much as 30 knots. 

The frigate’s full load displacement is about 6,050 tons. It’s filled with superior techniques, together with the Thales Nederland SMART-L long-range radar, the APAR [Active Phased Array Radar] for monitoring and engagement, and the SEWACO XI fight administration system.

The HNLMS Tromp is armed with varied highly effective weapons. These embody a 127 mm Oto Melara naval gun, vertical launch techniques for Developed Sea Sparrow Missiles [ESSM] and SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedoes. It additionally has a Goalkeeper CIWS [Close-In Weapon System] for close-range protection towards threats. 

The HNLMS Tromp has a flight deck and hangar that may maintain an NH90 helicopter. This helicopter can be utilized for missions like anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and extra. This setup makes the frigate extra versatile and extends its operational vary.

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