52051
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Indeed ... I only wonder, why the PLAAF does not directly replaces the Su-30MKK with J-16 in the 9th Brigade and assign J-20s to the 7th.
Thats's because PLA want to hide the electronic/performance features of the fighters they plan to depend on in wartime.
In east China sea there are lots electronic warfare planes there from both sides everyday, all try to steal the electronic signature and other features (I dont know how to say the term in english but you get the idea) of enemy's fighters to gain an upper hand in wartime.
To PLA, Su-30/35 are frontline fighter and conduct daily patrol mission in peacetime with US fighters, etc, since Su-3x are Russian fighters that exported to all over the world, therefore there is little point to hide their performance/electronic signatures etc , the US may already know that.
The 9th brigade's mission include both patrol in peacetime and strike/interception mission in wartime, to conduct their patrol mission, they need patrol fighters: either imported fighters or somewhat outdated fighters.
Thats why you only see old school PLA fighters or imported fighters whenever there are some peacetime interception made in the news, they certainly would not want to put their newly induced J-20/J-16 in east China sea frontline for enemy to inspect.