Official Chengdu J-20 Discussion Thread

the concerned

Active Member
i'm just wondering is the j-20 actually a replacement for the JH-7 now leopard because what is actually more important stealth or drag . yes the aircraft will have l/o qualities but does it really need to be completely stealth ,getting weapons on board i think is much more important. If china could make a Jdam eqiuvalent then this would become an exceptional strike fighter
 
Good question, the best answer I have heard is why bother to re-invent the wheel? More specifically why bother to go through the same slow and expensive development process for a less than cutting edge engine when you can buy proven systems off the shelf?

I agree with AFB that it makes better sense to use the resources to develop a new high end system that will give you a range of variants, once finished, to meet a most needs.

I also have heard a lot of analysis about what is clearly two sets of different engines being tested on the J20.
Right, and there are anecdotal reports that it flew everyday this past week, I just reread some of Dr. Songs report, there are lots of aerodynamic tweaks on the J bird, it will be interesting to see if they publish any developmental headaches, I would imagine not.
 

latenlazy

New Member
The Chinese government has a long history of polishing over the truth to look successful, being seen to have something is more important than it actually working, take their high speed rail network for instance...
To be fair, one accident does not make a bad rail network. Otherwise, there would be no such thing as a good one.
 

colay

New Member
If you follow how China has approached developments in military aviation, they don't have a very strong record of doing tech demonstrators.
How many of the things have they actually built? I seem to recall reading about a 2nd jet but I get the impression that only a solitary J-20 has actually taken to the air since it's debut over a year ago. This slow pace of flight tests seems to me to be more consistent with a proof-of-concept demonstrator than a prototype leading to the production stage.
 

latenlazy

New Member
How many of the things have they actually built? I seem to recall reading about a 2nd jet but I get the impression that only a solitary J-20 has actually taken to the air since it's debut over a year ago. This slow pace of flight tests seems to me to be more consistent with a proof-of-concept demonstrator than a prototype leading to the production stage.
Uhh, slow flight tests? They performed over 60 flight tests in a year.
 

colay

New Member
Others are also wondering the same thing.. At least the PAK-FA will soon have 6 test aircraft flying out of a projected total of 14. We have yet to see any similar commitment from the Chinese.. we shall see.

Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter In Taxi Tests | AVIATION WEEK
....The major open question at this point is whether the J-20 is a true prototype, like the T-50, or a technology demonstrator, with a status similar to the YF-22 flown in 1990. That question will be answered by whether, and how many, further J-20s enter flight testing in the next 12-24 months.
 

the concerned

Active Member
As i suppose most of you have read recently that Russia and China are finishing a deal regarding Su-35's then i would suggest that the j-20 is a technology demenstrator or its a strike aircraft not a interceptor
 
As i suppose most of you have read recently that Russia and China are finishing a deal regarding Su-35's then i would suggest that the j-20 is a technology demenstrator or its a strike aircraft not a interceptor
Colay I don't doubt that as I have been expecting that, but do you have a link or a credible source??
 

latenlazy

New Member
Others are also wondering the same thing.. At least the PAK-FA will soon have 6 test aircraft flying out of a projected total of 14. We have yet to see any similar commitment from the Chinese.. we shall see.

Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter In Taxi Tests | AVIATION WEEK
....The major open question at this point is whether the J-20 is a true prototype, like the T-50, or a technology demonstrator, with a status similar to the YF-22 flown in 1990. That question will be answered by whether, and how many, further J-20s enter flight testing in the next 12-24 months.
T-50 has been flying for a year more than the J-20, and the second airframe came out more than a year after the first flight test. To my knowledge there are 4 T-50s flying around right now, not 6. So far the J-20's flight testing looks hardly abnormal.
 
Is this addressed to me and if so, regarding what specifically?
Yes sir, just wondering about the Russians selling the Su35 to China, I believe I read that in a Russian newspaper article, but I don't recall where. I was just wondering if that was the source or if another source had confirmed that. Not questioning, just looking for further info myself. And Thank you in advance.
 

colay

New Member
T-50 has been flying for a year more than the J-20, and the second airframe came out more than a year after the first flight test. To my knowledge there are 4 T-50s flying around right now, not 6. So far the J-20's flight testing looks hardly abnormal.
I thought only 3 were flying with 3 more almost ready from one source I read.thats what I mean by "will soon have 6 test aircraft flying".. true the PAK-FA debuted earlier but it has been some 14 months now and we're still awaiting more J-20s to make an appearance. Heaven forbid something happens to that lone example with no apparent backups evident.
 

latenlazy

New Member
I thought only 3 were flying with 3 more almost ready from one source I read.thats what I mean by "will soon have 6 test aircraft flying"..
I kept hearing about number 4 coming out, and I haven't been keeping up in the last month so I thought maybe it already had. Either way, even if we assume that China uses the same testing pattern as Russia it's not going slow.
 

colay

New Member
Yes sir, just wondering about the Russians selling the Su35 to China, I believe I read that in a Russian newspaper article, but I don't recall where. I was just wondering if that was the source or if another source had confirmed that. Not questioning, just looking for further info myself. And Thank you in advance.
There are quite a number of reports that pop up using google citing Russian sources that a deal is imminent. And the deal is said to include S400 systems as well.
 

Haavarla

Active Member
Just for the record here.
The 4th T-50 will be flying at the last quarter of 2012.
This is by Mr Pogo own words.

There are totaly 5 T-50 airframes produced. Two are none flying for ground test subjects.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Yes sir, just wondering about the Russians selling the Su35 to China, I believe I read that in a Russian newspaper article, but I don't recall where. I was just wondering if that was the source or if another source had confirmed that. Not questioning, just looking for further info myself. And Thank you in advance.
Rian.ru ran an article, iirc. Check the Flanker Exports thread, it's in there.

There are quite a number of reports that pop up using google citing Russian sources that a deal is imminent. And the deal is said to include S400 systems as well.
Nope. China requested both, but was told that the earliest they could have either was after the Russian Airforce received their orders. For the S-400 this was said to be sometime post 2017. No deals were made about it, and no specific dates were set.
 
Top