gambit
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I am not talking about the government. Am talking about the lay Chinese who are no different than the lay but interested people from other countries that populate this forum. All the Chinese have to do is acknowledge that speculation is normal, and in highly specialized fields like military aviation where domain experts are always on the lookout for new and innovative things, speculations are expected. Granted, some people will make that charge just to mock the Chinese for being a copycat, but that is the price we pay for the freedom to discuss anything.The govt itself has no interest in acknowledging that they bought a regiment of Su-35s. We know that the WZ-10 was designed by Kamov because Kamov officially said it. Even today, their official policy is they did not copy the J-11B. So expecting the general public to acknowledge this is practically impossible.
As for those who post pictures -- post 57 -- of physical differences and declare that no adoption and adaptation took place: they are wrong.
Let us take an extreme example for now. Why are there no delta winged and propeller driven aircrafts ?
Is it technically feasible to design such an aircraft ? Of course it is. But why are these no MASS PRODUCTION of such ? Because the delta wing was developed for high speed and the propeller simply cannot provide enough power for the delta wing to its fullest potential. The propeller certain can provide enough power for takeoff and continuous flight. But if there is a need for Mach or rapid cycling of power for maneuvers, the propeller cannot provide.
Let us move on. Are there any swept (not delta) winged and propeller driven aircrafts ?
Again, we are talking about MASS PRODUCTION. Of course there is: Tu-95 'Bear' bomber from the Soviets. Like the delta, the swept wings are designed for high speed, but not to the extent of the delta. The propeller, if properly designed, can provide enough power for flight. The Tu-95 served the Soviets and Russians well. Still, the straight wings and propeller driven combination is better.
The point here is that just because the J-20 have some physical differences from the MIG 1.44, that does not mean the J-20 could not came from the MIG. China made low radar observable a non-negotiable requirement, so some shaping was necessary to the original design. The Chinese may have a better engine, so the J-20's wings will be shaped differently to exploit that improved propulsion capability. Aerodynamics and Propulsion works closely in designing any aircraft. They are in a push-pull relationship. One's capability can inhibit the final design of the other.
This is the kind of speculation I am talking about. It is experience and knowledge based.