Ausairpower is truly one of the most sensationalist websites and relies on dumping of misrepresented information to try and make their point. Which is why .. NO. and NO western air force, or respectable think tank wants to be associated with them.
The idea by them is to fool laymen by dumping numbers and statistics so that the general populous that is not aware or did not bother to look up the theory is fooled by them. Actual expects will see past these engineering "accountants".
That being said, non supercruisng or otherwise has little to do with obtaining a lock.. It has to do with reducing the IR signature and fuel efficiency. Dogfighting at supersonic speeds is possible but the pilot is the weak factor here.Moreover, the airframe as to have enough low drag and sufficient thrust so that it is able to maintain speed within a turn.
What supercruising essentially allows is faster Time on Target due to the ability to maintain a higher speed for a longer time AND the ability to use that higher speed to provide greater Kinematic energy to weapons released. If one looks at the shapes of fighters such as the J-20 and PAK-FA.. it comes to pass with the design of the J-20 that it is much more suited to flight in the supersonic regime as compared to other platforms(after all, the long thin delta has been the holder of speed records and offers the lowest drag as such.. but here it may be different). Hence, the J-20(if given the right engines or equal T/W ratio as the PAK-FA or the F-22 might have less difficulty slipping into the supersonic region as compared to the rest.
J-20: China's ultimate aircraft carrier-killer? | The DEW Line
The article states the same.. so in essence the J-20 may be designed for an ENTIRELY different purpose than the F-22 and PAK-FA.. and may be more comparable to the FB-22 concept. Its shaping would allow it to get close enough and at supercruise to American High Value Air Assets like the E-3 or otherwise and attack them in a pass and GET OUT as fast as well. Perhaps , it is purposefully designed to avoid the dogfight and is more like the Mig-31 than a F-15; except that its a very stealthy Mig-31 and that is in itself a very deadly platform.
Because if you look at it, spotting something like the F-22 will be very very difficult for even something like the J-20. And for it to engage it in A2A combat is also folly. However, if such an aircraft can simply slip past the F-22's and other assets to strike at the main keystone like AWACS or Carriers.. then it sort of solves the problem for the Chinese in a way.
There were recent reports that US Navy ordered some panic upgrades to their naval ECM systems.. which means that something was developed which they found out about that caused them to panic; could the J-20 be part of that mix?
After all, the Chinese are smart learners and they are learning. Perhaps they figured that instead of fighting the Americans pound for pound.. why not find a way around them? Asymmetric warfare to their approach.
