Official Chengdu J-20 Discussion Thread

[Air Force Brat]

Yes apparently the tail stings have been redesigned as you have noted, and its likely according to Dieno that they are entering the LRIP phase. The WS-15 may be some time coming yet, as the intakes of 2011 were reduced and reshaped, likely to optimize the airflows for AL-31FN that seems to be currently powering the J-20. Delft on the Sino Defense forum has noted that the J-15 and other Flankers are built in "batches" rather than the more typical "assembly line" type of production facility that many of us are more familiar with, I would imagine that Chengdu will also produce the J-20 in small batches???

So we do now have six flying prototypes, and I would imagine that flight test will move right along? President Xi has "clamped down" on alleged security leaks so we just don't see the lovely pix and videos that we did when 2001 was first rolled out and flown, very sad indeed, I was rather excited that maybe some things would change in China, I find the frosty new attitude very disappointing??

Well here we are on the eve of our independence day, its been six months or so since the last post on this thread, so to update, we are still at 6 flying prototypes, and awaiting the flight of 2016? I am somewhat convinced that the Chinese are producing these airplanes in batches as that appears to be the production norm in their aerospace industry , and following 2011, we saw 2012, 2013, and 2015 in fairly short succession. So as the Summer of 2015 rolls along we are waiting. As the US Marines prepare to go IOC with the F-35B, and Air Force are projecting IOC with F-35A in 2016, and Navy is slowly? preparing for IOC of the F-35C in 2018. The Russian PAK-FA 055 suffered an engine fire last summer, and has been rebuilt using a new fuse from another prototype, we expect the rebuilt 055 to fly soon?

The J-20 program remains rather heavily shrouded as we move forward, but many things have changed in the world since this aircrafts first flight.

 

[Air Force Brat]

Well here we are on the eve of our independence day, its been six months or so since the last post on this thread, so to update, we are still at 6 flying prototypes, and awaiting the flight of 2016? I am somewhat convinced that the Chinese are producing these airplanes in batches as that appears to be the production norm in their aerospace industry , and following 2011, we saw 2012, 2013, and 2015 in fairly short succession. So as the Summer of 2015 rolls along we are waiting. As the US Marines prepare to go IOC with the F-35B, and Air Force are projecting IOC with F-35A in 2016, and Navy is slowly? preparing for IOC of the F-35C in 2018. The Russian PAK-FA 055 suffered an engine fire last summer, and has been rebuilt using a new fuse from another prototype, we expect the rebuilt 055 to fly soon?

The J-20 program remains rather heavily shrouded as we move forward, but many things have changed in the world since this aircrafts first flight.

Well as the J-20 program moves forward, we have seen the first flight of 2016, 2017, and the roll outs fof 2101, and 2102, apparently the first LRIP aircraft. President Xi has rolled a blanket of secrecy onto almost all the developmental programs, and the carrier 001A appears that if will be a STOBAR like the Liaoning, but it is now under serious construction, and the J-15s are being qualed off the Liaoning.

 

[FORBIN]

For specialist and surprise for some systems but finaly it was not so obvious

High-Quality Shots Of Unpainted Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Offer New Capability Insights

The steady flow of intriguing new images of China's stealthy heavy fighter-interceptor, the J-20, continues over seven years after the jet first appeared. The aircraft is already in operational service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and it continues to evolve and spread its wings, participating in increasingly high-profile joint-exercises and deployments near hotspots along China's borders. Three new shots help us better understand the build quality of this game-changing machine as well as handicap some aspects of its true capabilities. But above all else, like I have stressed since its first appearance, the photos are a reminder that China's ability to make great leaps in aerospace materials and manufacturing sciences should not be underestimated.
...

 

[Air Force Brat]

For specialist and surprise for some systems but finaly it was not so obvious

High-Quality Shots Of Unpainted Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Offer New Capability Insights

The steady flow of intriguing new images of China's stealthy heavy fighter-interceptor, the J-20, continues over seven years after the jet first appeared. The aircraft is already in operational service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and it continues to evolve and spread its wings, participating in increasingly high-profile joint-exercises and deployments near hotspots along China's borders. Three new shots help us better understand the build quality of this game-changing machine as well as handicap some aspects of its true capabilities. But above all else, like I have stressed since its first appearance, the photos are a reminder that China's ability to make great leaps in aerospace materials and manufacturing sciences should not be underestimated.
...

Resurrecting the zombie thread eh??? Those pictures are indeed interesting, but not nearly as interesting as the discussion on SDF, where members are speculating a Mach 2.3 "super cruise" and a Mach 2.9 "top speed", LOL somebody has been smoking some very good weed,, probably with those numbers, "dusted" with something "bad"?? LOL

Don't take my word for it, check it out? course I'm the bad guy when I stated those numbers are NOT the truth? crazy huh?

 

[FORBIN]

Resurrecting the zombie thread eh??? Those pictures are indeed interesting, but not nearly as interesting as the discussion on SDF, where members are speculating a Mach 2.3 "super cruise" and a Mach 2.9 "top speed", LOL somebody has been smoking some very good weed,, probably with those numbers, "dusted" with something "bad"?? LOL

Don't take my word for it, check it out? course I'm the bad guy when I stated those numbers are NOT the truth? crazy huh?

Surely they want only beat F-22 …

For J-20 I have see SC to mach 1.8 and max to 2.5 … with ofc new/futur engines but we are not sure the power 160 - 180 kn so possible the speed is a bit inferior maybe 1.6 - 2. 3

With actual engines and we know the power i have see seems reasonable SC to 1.2 and max to 2.1 the F-35 is capable such limited SC low supersonic speed.surely on few dozen kms. In general fighter without too decrease the range can fly to high speed about 10 - 15 mn and max 1.5 - 2 hours.

Even with new engines and very big weight ratio these machines consumes a lot ! a single engine is less greedy

Mach 2.9 seems more for fanbois LOL speed for Mig-25/31 far to be stealth in more you imagine IR signature ! surely coating can't resist and as the range can decrease !
to SC a F-22 with int fuel get a CR of 850 km with 220 in SC in subsonic the max is to 1170 km so about less 30% in lmore to mach 2.5 or + you imagine surely 50 % i don't see interest and it is a tue no sense for tactical employment.

BTW internaly J-20 have LS-6 series bombs 50 - 500 kg GPS guided so in stealth mode weapons load completely similar to F-22
Chinese LS-6 Satellite / INS Thunder Stone Precision Guided Bomb | Chinese Military Review

 

[Air Force Brat]

Surely they want only beat F-22 …

For J-20 I have see SC to mach 1.8 and max to 2.5 … with ofc new/futur engines but we are not sure the power 160 - 180 kn so possible the speed is a bit inferior maybe 1.6 - 2. 3

With actual engines and we know the power i have see seems reasonable SC to 1.2 and max to 2.1 the F-35 is capable such limited SC low supersonic speed.surely on few dozen kms. In general fighter without too decrease the range can fly to high speed about 10 - 15 mn and max 1.5 - 2 hours.

Even with new engines and very big weight ratio these machines consumes a lot ! a single engine is less greedy

Mach 2.9 seems more for fanbois LOL speed for Mig-25/31 far to be stealth in more you imagine IR signature ! surely coating can't resist and as the range can decrease !
to SC a F-22 with int fuel get a CR of 850 km with 220 in SC in subsonic the max is to 1170 km so about less 30% in lmore to mach 2.5 or + you imagine surely 50 % i don't see interest and it is a tue no sense for tactical employment.

BTW internaly J-20 have LS-6 series bombs 50 - 500 kg GPS guided so in stealth mode weapons load completely similar to F-22
Chinese LS-6 Satellite / INS Thunder Stone Precision Guided Bomb | Chinese Military Review

Discussion moved to the "aeronautics thread",,, out of J-20 thread, LOL good ole SDF, I really don't know if or when the WS-15 will power the J-20? we may die of old age first, LOL

In any regard, I do like the primer bird pictures lots of detail.

 

[FORBIN]

Discussion moved to the "aeronautics thread",,, out of J-20 thread, LOL good ole SDF, I really don't know if or when the WS-15 will power the J-20? we may die of old age first, LOL

In any regard, I do like the primer bird pictures lots of detail.

Again more funny one thinking the new in yellow wearing a special painting LOLOL !

 

[ngatimozart]

Interesting article from The Drive discussing the latest developments on the J-20B.

China's Enhanced J-20B Stealth Fighter May Arrive Soon, Here's What It Could Include.

 

[John Fedup]

Interesting article from The Drive discussing the latest developments on the J-20B.

China's Enhanced J-20B Stealth Fighter May Arrive Soon, Here's What It Could Include.

Difficult to say how much of an improvement the “C” version of the WS-10 really is. The J-20 is a big jet and it would be the WS-15 arrival that would be a bigger concern. The one thing Chinese spies can’t steal is the manufacturing expertise and experience accumulated by US military jet engine vendors GE and P&W over the course of 75 years. I doubt the Russians are sharing their jewels and their’s don’t match GE and P&W. Kinematic performance with longevity is a big advantage.

 

[swerve]

AFAIK materials technology is a big issue. The leading western jet engine manufacturers make fan blades from some pretty exotic materials, for example. If you can't make blades as strong, light, heat resistant & long lived as they do, you can't get the same performance however sophisticated everything else in the engine is.

And the same for every other part that's subjected to high stresses.

 

[John Fedup]

AFAIK materials technology is a big issue. The leading western jet engine manufacturers make fan blades from some pretty exotic materials, for example. If you can't make blades as strong, light, heat resistant & long lived as they do, you can't get the same performance however sophisticated everything else in the engine is.

And the same for every other part that's subjected to high stresses.

Yes, and even if the Chinese find out what the exotic materials are, determining how the material is made and how components are fabricated from these materials is a much more difficult goal.