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Chengdu J-20

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J-20 "Black Eagle"
File:Chengdu J-20.jpg
Chengdu J-20
Role Stealth air superiority, multirole fighter
Strike fighter
National origin China
Manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group
First flight January 11, 2011[1][2][3]
Introduction 2017–2019 (planned)[3]
Status In development/flight testing[3]
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built 2[1]

The Chengdu J-20 "Black Eagle"[1] is a fifth generation stealth, twin-engine fighter aircraft prototype developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force.[4][5] In late 2010, the J-20 underwent high speed taxiing tests. The J-20 made its first flight on January 11, 2011.[1] General He Weirong, deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force said in November 2009 that he expects the J-20 to be operational in 2017-2019.[3]

Development

File:J-20 takeoff.jpg
The first flight of the J-20 at the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute airfield on January 11, 2011

The J-20 was one of the stealth fighter programs under the codename J-XX that was launched in the late 1990s.[6] Two prototypes (#2001-01 & #2001-02) have been built as of the end of 2010.[7]

On December 22, 2010, the J-20 was under-going high speed taxiing tests outside the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute with no confirmed flight tests.[8][9] It was reported on 30 December 2010 that top level officials were coming to the Chengdu facility to witness the first flight test.[10] The J-20 made its first flight which lasted about 20 minutes on January 11, 2011. A Chengdu J-10 served as the escort plane.[1][11][12]

Production and possible export

One Russian news analyst speculates that China may be able to produce the J-20 at a cost 50% to 80% lower than Russian and United States fifth-generation jet fighters, and that potential customers may include Pakistan, the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the richest countries in Africa.[13] He further conjectures that China may not be able to manufacture all the advanced composite materials, avionics, and sensors packages, and could instead turn to foreign suppliers.[13] Bill Sweetman speculates that China will have problems meeting its production requirements, as it has several other jet fighter projects in production.[3]

Design

The J-20, which appears to be somewhat larger and heavier than the comparable Sukhoi T-50 and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, is a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft.[3] Bill Sweetman estimates that it is approximately 75 feet (23 m) in length, has a wingspan of 45 feet (14 m) or more, and is expected to have a takeoff weight of 75,000 to 80,000 pounds (34,000 to 36,000 kg) with internal stores only.[3][14] The prototype could be powered by twin 32,000-pound thrust Saturn 117S engines provided by Russia.[15] Chinese sources have claimed that production aircraft will be powered by two 13,200 kg/WS-10 class high thrust turbofan engines fitted with Thrust Vector Controlled (TVC) nozzles, both made in China.[5] Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan has said that one of the signs of problems in the development is that China is still seeking engines from Russia for the aircraft.[16]

File:J-20 Front.jpg
The Chengdu J-20 is designed to provide overwhelming air support as a fighter-bomber in the Pacific Theater.[citation needed]

The J-20 may have lower supercruise performance and agility than a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, but might have larger weapon bays and carry more fuel.[17][18] The J-20 has a long and wide fuselage and low jet engine intakes with a forward chine, a main delta wing, forward canards, a bubble canopy, conventional round engine exhausts, and canted all-moving fins.[8][19] The front section of the J-20 is similarly chiseled as the F-22 Raptor and the body and tail resemble those of the Sukhoi T-50 prototype.[20] As early photographs of the prototype surfaced, Bill Sweetman commented that the design may suggest a large, long range ground attack aircraft, not unlike a stealth General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark.[21][22] Douglas Barrie has noted that the canard-delta configuration with canted vertical fins appears to be similar to the MiG 1.42.[23] It is suspected that cyberespionage may have assisted the development of the J-20, with information used by subcontractors of Lockheed Martin for the F-35 project in particular having been significantly compromised during development of the J-20.[3][24] However, the Pentagon denied that any sensitive material had been compromised in the process.

The J-20 has a pair of all-moving tailfins and ventral stabilizing fins. It also has an F-22 style nose section,[3] including Caret intakes but with F-35 style diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) bumps installed at the upper corners, and a one-piece canopy. The production J-20 may incorporate an advanced fly-by-wire (FBW) system fully integrated with the fire-control and the engine systems. Its fire-control radar is expected to be Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) (Type 1475/KLJ5?). The aircraft may feature a "pure" glass cockpit (a single F-35 style color liquid crystal display (LCD) and a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD)). Many of these subsystems have been tested onboard J-10B to speed up the development. It was reported in November 2006 that a T/W=10 17,000 kg class turbofan (WS-15/"large thrust") was being developed for the J-20. One (#2001-01) prototype is fitted with AL-31F, the other (#2001-02) is fitted with the improved WS-10 with a new "stealth" nozzle possibly to reduce RCS and IR emission.[3][1][25]

Carlo Kopp has suggested that the J-20's overall stealth design is superior [due to its F-22 like wing-fuselage join angle] to that of the F-35 or PAK FA, and may be eventually comparable to the F-22,[26] and he agrees with others, such as Shih Hiao-wei of Defense International monthly and Bill Sweetman of Aviation Week, that the excessive number of airfoils on the J-20 will challenge its ability to remain stealthy from all directions. As of January 2011 the engine nozzles were clearly non-stealthy, this may be due to the fact that the final "fifth generation" engines had not been completed yet.[3][27] Kopp and Goon have further speculated that the J-20 is designed to operate as a heavy interceptor, destroying opposing AWACS and tanker aircraft.[28] Robert Gates has also questioned how stealthy the J-20 might be, while recommitting to increased funding for the Pacific theater, though he admitted that intelligence may have underestimated Chinese progress.[29]

See also

External images
image icon Front view the J-20, undergoing taxiing trials at the Chengdu Test Facility.
image icon Side view the J-20 opening its drogue chute.
image icon Front view the J-20 from a different perspective.
image icon Side view of J-20
image icon Rear view of J-20

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Wikimedia Commons has media related to J-20.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Chinese Military Aviation: J-10, J-11, ... J-20. cnair.top81.cn
  2. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011100300.html
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "China's J-20 Stealth Fighter In Taxi Tests" Bill Sweetman Aviation Week site. 3 January 2011, Retrieved: Dec 30, 2010.
  4. ^ "Early Eclipse: F-35 JSF Prospects in the Age of Chinese Stealth". China-Defense on blogspot.com
  5. ^ a b "Chengdu J-20 – China's 5th Generation Fighter". Defense Update
  6. ^ J-XX 4th-Generation Fighter Aircraft. Sinodefence
  7. ^ "J-20 – Denial Is Not An Option". Aviation Week, 28 December 2010
  8. ^ a b Chinese Stealth Fighter Unveiled?, Australian Aviation. 30 December 2010
  9. ^ Wall Street Journal News bulletin video (retrieved 10 January 2011)
  10. ^ "Chengdu J-20 China’s first stealth fighter takes to the skies". defenceaviation.com, 30 December 2010
  11. ^ Chinese Stealth Fighter Appears to Make First Test Flight
  12. ^ J-20 Completes First Flight Robert Wall
  13. ^ a b "The future of China's fifth-generation stealth fighter". RIA Novisti, 29 December 2010
  14. ^ Chengdu J-20: China’s First Stealth Fighter. warisboring.com, 29 December 2010
  15. ^ China's Fifth Generation Jet Fighter Exposed. DefenseUpdate.com, 27 December 2010
  16. ^ Page, Jeremy. "A Chinese Stealth Challenge?" Wall Street Journal, 4 January 2010.
  17. ^ "China's Stealth Striker". Aviation Week
  18. ^ "China's Fifth Generation Fighter Exposed". Defense Update
  19. ^ Chinese Military Aviation: J-20 Black Eagle
  20. ^ "China's stealthy military leap". adelaidenow.com.au
  21. ^ Fog Lifts At Chengdu
  22. ^ Axe, David. "China’s Over-hyped Stealth Jet." The Diplomat, 7 January 2010.
  23. ^ "Long March: China’s fifth-generation fighter is years away"
  24. ^ "Computer Spies Breach Fighter-Jet Project"
  25. ^ Image
  26. ^ "Chengdu J-XX (J-20) Stealth Fighter Prototype". ausairpower.net, 1 January 2011
  27. ^ Emmanuelle Tzeng and Bear Lee "Experts doubt 'stealth' capability of Chinese fighters." Central News Agency of Taiwan, 4 January 2010.
  28. ^ http://the-diplomat.com/2011/01/07/china’s-over-hyped-stealth-jet/3/
  29. ^ BUMILLER, ELISABETH. "U.S. Will Counter Chinese Arms Buildup." New York Times, 8 January 2011.
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