Chengdu J-20 5th Generation Aircraft News & Discussions

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[SME11B]

no, its not, PL-15 is long range missile````


you got all mixed up, the ones showed in J-20's weapon bay at Zhuhai air show were PL-15`````

Aim-120D is also long range. Is the pl-21 the one they are claiming is 300km+?

 

[rcrmj]

Aim-120D is also long range. Is the pl-21 the one they are claiming is 300km+?

compared to PL-15's 200km+ effective range, yes, 120D with 150km range is more like a medium plus`````pl-21 flies way more than that 300km in a test against a target````````````

 

[yusheng]

Are you sure it is J-20's weapon bay?

seems you are sure that is not from J20,
ok, i made a mistake, it is from "H20 byside bay".

 

[LKJ86]

seems you are sure that is not from J20,
ok, i made a mistake, it is from "H20 byside bay".

I am not sure. Maybe it is from F-22???

 

[星海军事]

I am not sure. Maybe it is from F-22???

That's right. It'a CAD image of F-22's weapon bay.

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[siegecrossbow]

Article by Blitzo from sinodefenceforum. He also has a blog called plarealtalk that I've linked in my signature.

https://thediplomat.com/2018/11/chinas-air-force-on-the-rise-zhuhai-airshow-2018/

J-20 Receives a Proper Showcase

A pair of J-20s overflew Zhuhai Airshow 2016 in a brief 60 second debut; however, they did not demonstrate anything close to what the platform was capable of achieving, even when compared to amateur footage of J-20 test flights taken in Chengdu. But during Zhuhai 2018, multiple active service J-20s conducted more comprehensive displays lasting multiple minutes, on multiple days. The J-20 demonstrations started with a three or four ship formation overflight, leading into a series of tight turns and impressive climbs, showcasing arguably the most brisk maneuvers that have ever been observed from the J-20. Videos and photos taken at the scene show some of the best J-20 photos ever taken to date, with impressive vortex and condensation generation effects atop the aircraft in a manner never captured before.

Some observers and enthusiasts felt the J-10B’s TVC demonstration overshadowed the J-20. However, considering the J-10B was equipped with TVC as well as a powerplant suited to its weight category (whereas J-20s remain relatively underpowered with AL-31s), not to mention likely constraints placed by the PLA on the public performance of its newest air superiority fighter, the J-20’s display was quite impressive. Indeed, after the J-20’s demonstration at Zhuhai this year, one would be rather obtuse to insist the aircraft is a dedicated interceptor or dedicated strike aircraft.

This nicely segues into revelation of new J-20 information away from the flight display. Some AVIC press conferences and pamphlets provided new details of the J-20 as a project, as well as confirming what has long been speculated about the J-20’s role and performance. An official AVIC pamphlet describes the J-20’s role as one of “seizing and maintaining air superiority” with additional missions including interception and strike, confirming what has been widely speculated about the J-20’s role since the mid-2000s, when it was only known as J-XX among the PLA watching community.

Another fascinating press conference with J-20 chief designer Yang Wei and the first J-20 test pilot Li Gang provided additional details surrounding the aircraft. Although we have yet to receive pictures of a J-20’s cockpit, Li Gang stated the J-20 uses a side control stick, in a first for a Chinese fighter jet. Extensive collaboration between pilots and designers were involved in the process of developing the aircraft’s cockpit. As expected, statements praising the aircraft’s stealth were also made. But most revealing however, was Li Gang’s statement that the J-20 boasted excellent agility and handling, as good as the J-10. Confirming that the large, stealthy air superiority J-20 fighter can achieve kinematic performance similar to one of the PLA’s most agile fourth generation aircraft using only underpowered interim engines further confirms past speculation that the J-20 was designed to achieve competitive aerodynamic performance even when using interim engines, while awaiting WS-15s.

A note has to be made of some articles over the last few days suggesting that the J-20 was to attend Zhuhai installed with WS-15 engines, and that mass production of the WS-15 was imminent, in a story dating back a few months. However, in the PLA watching community such claims were considered to be highly erroneous at best, as there have been no credible rumors or pictures of WS-15s even starting tests aboard a J-20, let alone powering in service J-20s for a sufficient period to be displayed at a high profile event like Zhuhai.

Finally, on the last day of Zhuhai, the J-20 display included a pair of J-20s opening weapons bays to reveal a full loadout of air-to-air training missiles, including two PL-10 short range missiles and four PL-15 beyond visual range missiles. Such openness is unprecedented for the PLA, and even rare for other air forces flying their own stealth fighters.

 

[SME11B]

compared to PL-15's 200km+ effective range, yes, 120D with 150km range is more like a medium plus`````pl-21 flies way more than that 300km in a test against a target````````````

I thought most sources put 120D at 160-180km and it is a well tested missile and design with combat experience so I wouldn't take it lightly. Anybody can make a big fat missile with long range but it's the guidance and delivery that count a lot. If "200+km is really like 205km than it seems a bit extreme to put them in separate categories. By that logic J-20 isn't 5th gen because it doesn't measure up to f-22/35 but most would put it in that category.

 

[waz]

Friends how many of the J-20 are currently flying with the WS-15 engine?

 

[siegecrossbow]

Friends how many of the J-20 are currently flying with the WS-15 engine?

Long answer: WS-15 has not yet completed inflight testing and probably won't be ready for mass production until the mid-2020s. As a stop-gag measure, current inservice J-20s are flying modified AL-31FN variants (either 99M1 or a domestically thrust enhanced version, as Yankee suggested) and there is at least one demonstrator flying with WS-10(B/C/G???) engines. The second batch of J-20s will enter mass production with WS-10 and depending on whether there is enough thrust, will probably use the same tvc engine nozzles as those used on J-10B TVC.

Short answer: Zero.

 

[waz]

Long answer: WS-15 has not yet completed inflight testing and probably won't be ready for mass production until the mid-2020s. As a stop-gag measure, current inservice J-20s are flying modified AL-31FN variants (either 99M1 or a domestically thrust enhanced version, as Yankee suggested) and there is at least one demonstrator flying with WS-10(B/C/G???) engines. The second batch of J-20s will enter mass production with WS-10 and depending on whether there is enough thrust, will probably use the same tvc engine nozzles as those used on J-10B TVC.

Short answer: Zero.

Ah no worries thanks for the information, I was expecting trials would be starting by the end of the year. I can’t wait to see the J-20 fly with the WS-15, as it will be full circle for this great aircraft.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Ah no worries thanks for the information, I was expecting trials would be starting by the end of the year. I can’t wait to see the J-20 fly with the WS-15, as it will be full circle for this great aircraft.

That would be extremely optimistic but I think everyone on this board wishes the same.