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J-XX

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J-XX
Role Combat aircraft
National origin People's Republic of China
Designer Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
Introduction 2018[1]
Status Under development
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)

J-XX[2] J-X,[2][3] and XXJ[2] are names applied by Western intelligence sources to describe program(s) by the People's Republic of China to develop one or more fourth[3] (by Chinese nomenclature) or fifth-generation fighter aircraft (by west).[2] In a 2009 television interview, He Weirong (何为荣), deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, stated that China had multiple such programs underway and that an as-yet-undesignated fifth-generation fighter developed jointly by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation would be in service by 2017-2019.[4]

History

In 2002, Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Shenyang Aircraft Corporation had been selected to head research and development of the new fighter,[3] a claim repeated in New Scientist the same week.[5] However, a 2006 article in Military Technology referred to three designs; two by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and one by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.[2]

According to the report from Jane's, development of the subsystems, including the engine and weapon suite for the next generation fighter, has been under way for some time. A photograph of a wind tunnel model published with the article showed a twin-engine aircraft with twin vertical tail fins. The article text mentioned that the aircraft would carry its weapons internally like the F-22 Raptor. New Scientist called attention to the angular, faceted features of the design, comparing them to the F-117 Nighthawk. Jane's also linked the programme with China's development of an engine with thrust vectoring capability.

The later report in Military Technology featured a picture of a completely different design, speculatively dubbed J-14 and said to be a Shenyang project, with the designations J-12 and J-13 being applied to (possibly competing) designs by Shenyang and Chengdu respectively. Since 2009, Chinese internet comments have repeatedly pointed to a merging of the two efforts, to be named J-14. Chengdu is rumored to be responsible for the airframe, while Shenyang focuses on the engines and other components.

In November 2009 He Weirong (何为荣), deputy commander of the Chinese air force, confirmed that "intense" research and development work on the fifth generation stealth fighter was ongoing. Being developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the aircraft has not yet been given a designation but is expected to be unveiled within the next 5 years and would enter service by 2015, according to Weirong.[4] Another source quotes Weirong as saying the aircraft would enter service within 8 years, giving possible in-service dates of 2017 to 2019.[6][7][8]

A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency official commenting on Gen. He's claims stated the DIA believes a first flight of the J-XX "will occur in the next few years", but it is also believed that operational deployment of the fighter "in meaningful numbers" will not take place "for about 10 years."[9] U.S. Air Force and U.S. intelligence officials have stated their belief that China likely has all the resources, data and technology required to build a fifth generation fighter. However, doubts remain on whether China has enough knowledge in areas such as systems engineering, integration and production processes to build a fighter comparable to U.S. stealth designs which can also be produced in large numbers. It is speculated that the fighter may not be an "all-aspect" stealth design by some sources, for this reason.[10] The U.S. Department of Defense expects China to have a handful of fifth generation fighters in service between 2020 and 2025, according to statements made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates in July 2009.[11] However, a year later, in May 2010, this statement was rebuffed by the US' prime intelligence producer—Ulman stating that Chinese 5th generation fighter jets will be expected around 2018.[1]

In early November, 2010, several Chinese commentators[12][13] and Janes claim that the first two airframes have been completed in Chengdu. The first one, serial number 2001, is to be fitted for test flights, while 2002 is destined for stationary stress tests.

In late December, 2010, Chinese commentators[14] [15][16][17] provided more details of J-XX, now named Chengdu J-20, including several photographs. It has an elongated airframe with forward canards, a main delta wing, outward canted fins, two very small ventral fins, two under-wing DSI's, and conventional jet nozzles. It is considerably larger than either the US F-22 or the Russian T-50. The test plane is believed to be fitted with WS-10A engines as WS-15 is not thought be ready for deployment. However, Janes has reported that the Russians have agreed to supply 32,000-pound thrust 117S as the Chinese are lagging in the production of mission-ready jet engines.[18]

In addition to the canards the J-20 has several other features not found on stealth aircraft such as anhedral wings (when seen from the front, zero angle when seen from the back), rectangular hatches and non-horizontal chines.

Design

The general design concept of the J-XX is that of a fifth-generation fighter which incorporates stealth, supercruise, super-maneuverability and short take-off capabilities, abbreviated "4S".[19] One or more of the proposed designs are believed to incorporate several design features for increasing stealth and maneuverability while decreasing weight and drag.

A V-shaped pelikan tail could be implemented, replacing conventional vertical tail fins and horizontal stabiliser structures. This would be beneficial for reduction of radar signature, weight and aerodynamic drag, since control surface area and corresponding control mechanisms are reduced. Problems faced by this type of design are flight control system complexity and control surface loading. If the pelikan tail is adopted, use of engines with thrust vector control may alleviate these problems.[20]

The new fighter may have a significantly longer fuselage than other fifth generation fighter designs, such as the F-22, for reduction of transonic and supersonic drag.[21] A trapezoidal wing may be implemented for reduction of drag and radar signature.[22] Use of an 's'-shaped air inlet and boundary layer separation system would greatly reduce radar signature.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ a b "New Chinese fighter jet expected by 2018: U.S. intelligence". Reuters. 21 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e Coniglio 2006, P.44
  3. ^ a b c Chang 2002
  4. ^ a b Govindasamy, 2009
  5. ^ Knight 2002
  6. ^ "The new Chinese stealth fighter will be ready within 10 years"
  7. ^ 凤凰军事网, 中国空军副司令首曝：国产第四代战机即将首飞 November 09, 2009 English translation using Google Translate
  8. ^ CCTV video footages 面对面何为荣：剑啸长空. 8 November 2009.
  9. ^ Gertz 2009
  10. ^ Fulghum & Barrie 2009
  11. ^ Gates 2009
  12. ^ "成飞四代机11月5日首次加油准备试车". GlobalNet. 6 November 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "中国成飞歼14再传新消息：两架原型机秘密下线". GlobalNet. 9 November 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "终于看到真正的中国四代战机". GlobalNet. 23 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "台湾网友热议解放军四代机". GlobalNet. 26 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "中国四代战机正面全景大图出来了". GlobalNet. 28 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "转个不会喝茶吧". TieXue. 28 December 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Sweetman, Bill. "China's Stealth Striker." Avation Week Blog, 27 December 2010.
  19. ^ Deng 2009
  20. ^ "Chinese Air Force deputy commander...", p. 2.
  21. ^ "Chinese Air Force deputy commander...", p. 8.
  22. ^ "Chinese Air Force deputy commander...", p. 9.
  23. ^ "Chinese Air Force deputy commander...", p. 10.

References

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