PLAAF to Fly 5th Generation Fighter
Nov 15, 2009
Reuben F. Johnson/Show News
Dubai Airshow
China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) says it will soon fly a prototype of its 5th-generation fighter, and that the aircraft will enter service within ten years--much earlier than originally projected by the U.S. intelligence community. If true, the rationale for cancelling further production of the Lockheed Martin F-22A--which is making its first appearance at Dubai this year--in favor of the F-35 would appear to have been an error in properly vetting U.S. Air Force, DIA and CIA foreign weapon system intelligence estimates.
The PLAAF celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding as a branch of the Chinese armed services just last week. Part of the lead-up to the celebration was an interview with deputy commander He Weirong on the CCTV program "Face to Face," who made these first official statements actually acknowledging the program. The development of the 5th generation fighter is being "intensely made," he said, and the first test flight is coming later, with initial PLAAF deliveries to take place by 2010.
The lead design center on the program is No. 611 Institute--or the Chengdu Aerospace Development Institute--with prototype production to take place at Plant No. 132 of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. Chengdu's 5th-generation design supposedly won the competition between Chinese aircraft development centers, but their rivals at No. 601 Institute of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation will also participate in the program.
Sources in Beijing point out that the chief designer of the Chengdu J-10, Yang Wei, had been promoted some time ago to a position at AVIC headquarters in Beijing, and had a hand in making sure that the Chengdu design was declared the winner.
Previous released projections of Chinese aeroengine development have mentioned a developed version of the Liming Aeroengine Manufacturing Corporation's WS-10A engine, designated the WS-10G, which has a thrust rating of 15800 kg (155kN). Other sources have stated the engine is the WS-15 model rated at 15000 kg (147kN). The Chinese almost never mention a program until officials been given clearance to do so--and they are assured that the program schedule as announced can be met. Barring any unforeseen technological bottlenecks, the Chinese program would appear to be moving faster than its U.S. (F-35) and Russian (T-50/PAK-FA) analogs
Copyright 2009 Aviation Week, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Nov 15, 2009
Reuben F. Johnson/Show News
Dubai Airshow
China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) says it will soon fly a prototype of its 5th-generation fighter, and that the aircraft will enter service within ten years--much earlier than originally projected by the U.S. intelligence community. If true, the rationale for cancelling further production of the Lockheed Martin F-22A--which is making its first appearance at Dubai this year--in favor of the F-35 would appear to have been an error in properly vetting U.S. Air Force, DIA and CIA foreign weapon system intelligence estimates.
The PLAAF celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding as a branch of the Chinese armed services just last week. Part of the lead-up to the celebration was an interview with deputy commander He Weirong on the CCTV program "Face to Face," who made these first official statements actually acknowledging the program. The development of the 5th generation fighter is being "intensely made," he said, and the first test flight is coming later, with initial PLAAF deliveries to take place by 2010.
The lead design center on the program is No. 611 Institute--or the Chengdu Aerospace Development Institute--with prototype production to take place at Plant No. 132 of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. Chengdu's 5th-generation design supposedly won the competition between Chinese aircraft development centers, but their rivals at No. 601 Institute of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation will also participate in the program.
Sources in Beijing point out that the chief designer of the Chengdu J-10, Yang Wei, had been promoted some time ago to a position at AVIC headquarters in Beijing, and had a hand in making sure that the Chengdu design was declared the winner.
Previous released projections of Chinese aeroengine development have mentioned a developed version of the Liming Aeroengine Manufacturing Corporation's WS-10A engine, designated the WS-10G, which has a thrust rating of 15800 kg (155kN). Other sources have stated the engine is the WS-15 model rated at 15000 kg (147kN). The Chinese almost never mention a program until officials been given clearance to do so--and they are assured that the program schedule as announced can be met. Barring any unforeseen technological bottlenecks, the Chinese program would appear to be moving faster than its U.S. (F-35) and Russian (T-50/PAK-FA) analogs
Copyright 2009 Aviation Week, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
. goooooooooooooood work china all the way
