I haven't heard this theory regarding the J-20 and I want to throw it out there...
What we do know.
1. The Chinese are developing weapons to not only exploit perceived Western weakness but also to match our capabilities and if possible exceed them.
2. The Chinese have a hacking enterprise second to none. An enterprise that fetched them details on the F-35...presumably on its avionics package.
What has been speculated.
1. The J-20 is a large airplane to allow it to operate across the expanses of the Pacific.
2. In its production version it will sport thrust vectoring and F-22 class engines.
3. Its extremely agile and achieves it in a unique way not currently being utilized (exactly) in the West.
What I'm guessing.
The J-20 is a long range missile truck that operates under the assumption that maneuvering is irrelevant. A Chinese version of helmet mounted cuing...rearward facing AESA and some form of EOTS would in essence change what is needed in modern day aerial combat.
If the Chinese have been reading and keeping up with Air Force and Navy Journals regarding the use of Electronic Attack...the possibility of microwave and solid state lasers in the near future and the Achilles heel of power generation then it would lead them to build what we consider a huge fighter.
My guess is that the Chinese have put it all together, possibly much quicker than we did, with primary considerations NOT being agility but instead power production, long range, extremely large internal weapons bays and the ability to carry large all aspect sensors.
Just a guess but I can't get past how big this sucker is!
If you're right, Sol, then perhaps it should more properly be referred to as a light bomber.
ReplyDelete@Jonathan Baum: It's clearly not a bomber as it's primary role is air superiority. Think of it more as a cross between a stealthy Mig-31 and a Strike Eagle. (Strike Eagles aren't called bombers either. B-58s and B-47s are.)
ReplyDelete..one word: "Firefox". I realize this isn't a serious reply, but every time I see photos of the J-20, it just makes me think, "Firefox".
ReplyDeleteI look at it as more of an Interceptor or Area Denial. Air Superiority, for me, implies agility and until some more proof comes out, the WS-15's are proven, and the thrust vectoring is installed, I'm not convinced that 5th gen level agility is there.
ReplyDeletei think Sol is right, i have read some places its not meant to be an air supremacy figther, its meant to hit our fleets hard and fast. it will not be a bomb truck but a missile truck, it can rapidly go out to sea, launch an assortment of missiles at our screening ships and given its speed (1.3-1.6 Mach if its comparable to our 5th gen fighters), our air defense systems wont be able to stop it in time and if its missiles are good enough the burkes may not have time to get off their defense abilities, hence why the navy is really working on lasers in ship defense, especially with missiles.
ReplyDeleteOr an 'intentional' F-111. OTH it's going to need that WS15 engine to usefully outperform even the F-35 in the classic (tough simplified) performance metrics. Question is, will they fully succeed with that before the F-35 itself is uprated?
ReplyDeleteB. Bolsøy
Oslo
What exactly is an "intentional" F-111?
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget China is an extremely large territory. We the USA have assets on the their Pacific side and predator drones in Pakistan on their Western side, with the Global Hawk and X-47 being developed,we could easily hit China from our (supposed) base in Pakistan or even from Afghanistan, they have the range. I'm sure China is not only thinking about the USA, Russia is still a worry for them. With the J-20 they could also easily hit deep within Russia. What scares me is that the Chinese can hack our plans for the F-35, before it's even fully built! What else do they know? Yes, our carriers need better defensive capabilities other than the fighters they support.
ReplyDeletesferrin. I'm just suggesting that the J-20 could suffer a similar fate as the F-111 in terms of weight growth and engine problems, and perhaps its mission.
ReplyDeleteB. Bolsøy
Oslo