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Chengdu J-20 5th Generation Aircraft News & Discussions

Stealth jet 'set for maiden flight'

Updated: 2014-02-20 02:40

By Zhao Lei (China Daily)

Photos of advanced prototype posted amid speculation over imminent test

China is said to be planning the maiden flight soon of the upgraded version of the J-20 stealth fighter.

A number of photos recently taken by aviation enthusiasts at an unidentified base, and widely circulated on websites that follow the Chinese military, show a prototype of the twin-engine, fifth-generation aircraft with the serial code "2011" painted on both sides of the cockpit.

Active members on cjdby.net and fyjs.cn, the two most-visited sites that cover the Chinese military, said the first test flight of the prototype aircraft is imminent.

The flight is expected to take place in Chengdu, where the aircraft's developer, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, is headquartered.

An employee of the Aviation Industry Corp of China, parent company of the Chengdu industry group, speaking on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said that he could neither confirm nor deny the rumors.

Recent media reports about China's military hardware testing have confirmed many of the rumors published by Chinese military enthusiasts. Many of the followers claim to have a great deal of knowledge about weapons, and sources with defense contractors.

The newest J-20 is the stealth fighter's third prototype since the aircraft's debut three years ago.

In January 2011, the J-20's first prototype made its maiden flight at an unidentified airfield in Chengdu. The 15- minute flight made China the third nation in the world to "develop and test-fly a full-size stealth combat aircraft prototype", after the United States and Russia, according to Western media outlets.

China launched its stealth fighter programs in the late 1990s. It is also developing a single-engine, radar-evading fifth-generation jet fighter called the J-31. That aircraft has undergone several test flights.

China reportedly conducted test flights of a second J-20 prototype in Chengdu in May 2012. Pictures of a J-20 prototype firing from its side weapons bays surfaced in March 2013. It's unclear which prototype was tested in March.

Chinese aviation enthusiasts said a series of improvements have been made to the stealth fighter. It reportedly has a new air intake design, shorter engine nozzles and a sensor technology that helps pilots detect and track enemy aircraft or missiles in every direction simultaneously.:tup:

An upcoming test would indicate that its engineers and designers have made remarkable strides to finalize the J-20 project, said Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief at Aerospace Knowledge magazine.

"Most of the changes made to the third prototype seem to be about its aerodynamics," he said. "I think the upgraded version will have better avionics, stealth capability and stronger survivability in combat."

But Wang emphasized that it is too early to tell if the aircraft's design has been finalized, pointing out that the United States spent many years on its jet fighters and adopted numerous changes.

"China only has a short history of developing advanced aircraft. There is still a long road for us before our aircraft can compete with others," he said.

Frank Kendall, the US under-secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, recently told The Wall Street Journal that US defense officials "expect the Chinese to have export versions of the equipment that they have built".

Kendall said China is expected to put the J-20 into active military service in the next few years and added it could export the aircraft to other nations.

Stealth jet 'set for maiden flight'|Politics|chinadaily.com.cn
 
Active members on cjdby.net and fyjs.cn, the two most-visited sites that cover the Chinese military, said the first test flight of the prototype aircraft is imminent.

CJDBY and FYJS should thank China Daily for the free publicity.
 
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J-20 may have better ground attack capability than F-22

Staff Reporter 2014-02-23

The J-20, China's prototype first fifth-generation stealth fighter, may have better ground attack capability than its US counterpart, a report from the Beijing Sina Military Network said after a photo of the newest version of the aircraft was released on the internet.

Judging from the photo of a J-20 with the serial number 2011, Sina Military Network said the electro-optical targeting system seen below the nose indicates that the fighter is designed mainly for ground attack. This is a similar design to American stealth fighters such as the F-22 and F-35. With stealth capability, the article said that J-20 can be a perfect bomber when used against a ground target.

Most missions carried out by American fighters such as the F-16 Falcon or F-15E Strike Eagle in Afghanistan and Iraq are against ground targets. The F-22 is also designed with the capability to attack ground targets with joint direct attack munitions and small diameter bombs. However, the F-22 may still be detected by enemy radar while tracking a moving ground target as its radar releases electromagnetic radiation.

After all 35 satellites of the second phase of China's Beidou Navigation System are sent into orbit, the J-20 will be able to launch precision attacks against ground targets like the F-22 as well, Sina Military Network said. Noting that the J-20 can carry four air-to-air missiles, the article also indicated that China is developing its own joint direct attack munitions and small diameter bombs for the stealth fighter.

The J-20 can carry a payload of up to 24 small diameter bombs compared to the F-22, which can carry about eight, Sina Military Network said.:o: If the electro-optical targeting system can be used by fourth-generation fighters like the Su-30 and J-10, this would enhance the ground attack capability for these fighters from a longer distance, the report said.

J-20 may have better ground attack capability than F-22|Politics|News|WantChinaTimes.com
 
Judging from the photo of a J-20 with the serial number 2011, Sina Military Network said the electro-optical targeting system seen below the nose indicates that the fighter is designed mainly for ground attack. This is a similar design to American stealth fighters such as the F-22 and F-35. With stealth capability, the article said that J-20 can be a perfect bomber when used against a ground target.


F-22 has EOTS? o_O wantchinatimes is so daft.
 
I think one more prototype, 2012, and serial production can begin by 2015. :bounce:

That's letting America dictate the pace, we aren't ready before 2018, if then. Out of the two of us the Americans are the ones worried more.

We know we are weaker, but we know the Chinese civilization, and our people supports our country taking a leadership role.

While Americans thinks we don't have guns that work, and the American government fears losing soldiers, especially the amount that would be lost in a Sino American conflict.

Our people would be able to handle the sacrifice, because we have our eye on the prize, while Americans will not see it in so favorable a light. So while it may seem America holds all the cards, it is us that's in command actually.

We dictate the pace of our modernization plan, that's the way to win wars. They play their game we play ours, see who comes on top.
 
That's letting America dictate the pace, we aren't ready before 2018, if then. Out of the two of us the Americans are the ones worried more.

We know we are weaker, but we know the Chinese civilization, and our people supports our country taking a leadership role.

While Americans thinks we don't have guns that work, and the American government fears losing soldiers, especially the amount that would be lost in a Sino American conflict.

Our people would be able to handle the sacrifice, because we have our eye on the prize, while Americans will not see it in so favorable a light. So while it may seem America holds all the cards, it is us that's in command actually.

We dictate the pace of our modernization plan, that's the way to win wars. They play their game we play ours, see who comes on top.
It's not really letting the US dictating the pace as much as it is the natural progression of the program. We'll probably see at least 1 more prototype this year and at least another 2 in 2016. By 2017, you'll probably see a full squad of J-20 prototypes.

You need to do this in order to make sure the program doesn't slow down or stall. The more prototypes you have, the easier it is to develop the system.
 
J-10 first flight 1998, production by 2002. FC-1 first flight 2003, production by 2007. I think with J-20, first flight January 2011, production by late 2015 is certainly possible. :oops: In a race with F-35A to see which can achieve IOC first.

Initial batch can be powered by WS-10A. Later batches can be powered by WS-10G. Later on all get WS-15.
 
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J-10 first flight 1998, production by 2002. FC-1 first flight 2003, production by 2007. I think with J-20, first flight January 2011, production by late 2015 is certainly possible. :oops: In a race with F-35A to see which can achieve IOC first.

Initial batch can be powered by WS-10A. Later batches can be powered by WS-10G. Later on all get WS-15.

Replacing engine later sounds simple, but in reality it is not, it's very complicated, this isn't just sticking something of the same size in and it'll work, there's a ton of work that goes into it.

Also the WS-10 series are not optimized for Stealth, if we use it in a stealth engine it'll make the fighter vulnerable and useless, well not useless, but it'll be 4++ at best and not 5th gen.


I said 2018, because 2015 is supposed test flight for WS-15, I'm thinking 4-5 years of work should finally put to bed most of the problems and make the engine at least useable for the fighter.

J-10 is different, engine is foreign, if we didn't have to worry about engines, maybe, but we do so I'm expecting 2020 to be safe.

Don't worry in the mean time, stock up on J-16, J-15, J-11, J-10, these are still very capable fighters all of these will be able to dominate the skies for at least another 10 years after 2020.

Don't be too impatient, America put out 4th gen in the 70s, and us in 2003. This time it is only 14 at latest, so we narrow the gap to less than half. So basically we are put at the same level as the Russians. Still a outstanding showing.
 
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