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Air Force reveals J-20 combat formation
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/1/20 18:13:40

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The “three musketeers of the sky” – the J-20, J-16 and J-10C – fly in formation in a real-combat scenario training session. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

China's most advanced J-20 stealth fighter jets assigned to an ace unit have been conducting real-combat scenario training together with powerful J-16 and agile J-10C jets, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force revealed, as a Chinese expert said Monday the combination can conjure a kaleidoscope of tactics to safeguard the country.

In a video released Sunday that celebrates the upcoming Spring Festival, the PLA Air Force showed the first scenes of J-20 fighter jets of the Wang Hai Air Group conducting real-combat scenario training.

This is an indication that the J-20 jets are making smooth progress in the air force, as their service has entered a new stage of comprehensive combat capability, military experts said.

The video also showed for the first time the J-20, J-16 and J-10C, dubbed the "three musketeers of the sky," taking off and conducting real-combat scenario training together. Two J-20s, two J-16s and one J-10C formed a combat formation, according to the video.

The combination of one J-20, one J-16 and one J-10C was tested in 2018, China Central Television (CCTV) reported then.

Air defense expert Fu Qianshao told the Global Times on Monday that the air force has been exploring tactics with the J-20 and other fighter jets in previous mock competitive training and has gained some experience in acquiring air superiority, land attack and sea attack.

While the J-20 is more advanced than the J-16 and J-10C, they share advanced technologies like avionics and active electronically scanned array radars, according to Fu.

The J-16, the least stealthy of the three, can lead an attack and openly use radar to detect targets and attract enemy attention, while the stealthy J-20s can lurk nearby and launch surprise missile attacks when hostile targets engage the J-16, Fu said, noting that the J-10C, when equipped with the domestically developed thrust vector control engine, will excel at close-quarters dogfights thanks to super maneuverability.

Another tactic is to first have the J-20 destroy hostile strategic hubs, including early warning aircraft and aerial tankers, using their stealth capability, and then the heavily loaded J-16 can strike enemy ground forces including mobile radar stations as the J-10C takes over air supremacy, experts told the Global Times.

The J-20 has a kaleidoscope of tactics to fulfill their missions and more mock combat exercises should be conducted, Fu said, noting he also expects electronic warfare aircraft to accompany the J-20.

The J-20 made its first test flight in 2011, its public debut at Airshow China 2016 and entered military service in 2017.

 
Chinese military enthusiasts expect new warplanes in 2020
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/1/22 18:03:41

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China's most advanced fighter jet, J-20, performs at the Chinese Air Force's "open day" event in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province on Thursday. This is the second time the stealth warplane opened its side missile bays and showcased its short-range combat missiles. They were first revealed at Airshow China 2018. Photo: IC

Chinese military enthusiasts online are eagerly expecting new, homemade warplanes to debut in 2020, naming the next-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet and the carrier-based early warning aircraft as their top wishes.

They also hope to see domestically developed aero engines finally equipped on J-20 stealth fighter jets.

The internet users' appetite was whetted by a statement from the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) last week, in which the country's main warplane developer announced the company would develop nine types of aircraft, conduct maiden flights for four types of aircraft, and receive a production permit for one type of aircraft in 2020.

While the development plan may not be revealed to the public immediately, the maiden flights are more concrete, as the military channel of news portal Sina held a vote on its social media platform Weibo, asking military enthusiasts online which type of aircraft they would like to see.

As of Wednesday, 42 percent of more than 4,000 votes went to the next-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet, 28 percent the carrier-based early warning aircraft and 23 percent the twin-seat variant J-20 fighter jet.

While the new aircraft AVIC mentioned could include both military and civilian aircraft, China's military aviation equipment will definitely continue to see new progress in 2020, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Wednesday.

China needs to develop a stealth-capable carrier-based fighter jet to form a complete set with the country's future aircraft carrier, air defense expert Fu Qianshao told the Global Times in a previous interview, noting details on the aircraft remain rumors.

A replica of China's carrier-based early warning aircraft was spotted years ago. This type of aircraft could amplify aircraft carrier's combat capability by acting as a command center in the sky, gathering information and coordinating vessels into a stronger strike force, experts said.

Photographers posted photos of a J-20, still single seat but equipped with homemade engines on Sina Weibo in late 2019, as military enthusiasts said they also wish to see this evolved version of the J-20 debut at the 2020 Airshow China, scheduled for November in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.

In a Friday Weibo post, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) indicated AVIC is developing an "X-20," which internet users identified as the H-20 bomber.

Replying to comments under the post, SASAC said the X-20 was "coming soon," but refused to confirm the H-20 speculation.

Analysts said the H-20 is unlikely to debut in 2020 and will take more time to develop.
 
Okay, there are good quality pictures of eight kinds of craft, but I cannot be sure of the types of each, so from top down:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. KJ-500 ?!
8. Y-20 series

Please complete the list :-)



1. Z-9WZ
2. Z-10K
3. J-8F (or HF)
4. J-10B
5. H-6K
6. Y-8C
7. KJ-500 ?!
8. Y-20 series



Great, a J-7G Brigade with a new unit marking! :-)

Any idea where they were spotted? Allegedly a Brigade within the CTC, but give their number it does not look like the 21st Air Brigade (63x1x)

looks more like 66xxx or 68xxx?

(via http://slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn/slide_8_193_75406.html#p=1)
 
Last edited:
1. Z-9WZ
2. Z-10K
3. J-8F (or HF)
4. J-10B
5. H-6K
6. Y-8C
7. KJ-500 ?!
8. Y-20 series




Great, a J-7G Brigade with a new unit marking! :-)

Any idea where they were spotted? Allegedly a Brigade within the CTC, but give their number it does not look like the 21st Air Brigade (63x1x)

looks more like 66xxx or 68xxx?

(via http://slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn/slide_8_193_75406.html#p=1)
Thanks Deino fyi! :tup:

I could be right too for the no. 5. H-6 series yet too shy to put it down :-)
 
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