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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 2011 (planned)[1]
Introduction 2017–2019 (planned)[1]
Status In development/taxi trials[1]
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built 2[2]

The Chengdu J-20, also known as the Black Eagle,[2] is a fifth generation stealth, twin-engine fighter aircraft prototype developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for the People's Liberation Army Air Force.[3][4]

Development

The J-20 was one of the stealth fighter programs under the codename J-XX that was launched in the late 1990s.[5] Two prototypes (#2001 & 2002) have been built as of the end of 2010.[6]

On December 22, 2010, the J-20 was under-going high speed taxi tests at its Chengdu facility with no confirmed flight tests yet; however,[7] it has been reported that top level officials are coming to the Chengdu facility to witness the first flight test.[8]

Production and exportation

One Russian news analyst speculates that China may be able to produce the J-20 at a cost that is 50% to 80% less than the 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.[9] 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.[9] Bill Sweetman speculates that China will have problems meeting its production requirements, as they have several other jet fighter projects in production.[1]

While the aircraft outwardly resembles the F-22 it is unclear how its capabilities compare. The journalist David Axe suggests if production is strong and China is able to place the J-20 into service early it would aid in creating jet fighter parity against a coalition of rival countries, such as United States, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and India.[10]

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.[1] 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.[1][10] The prototype could be powered by twin 32,000-pound thrust Saturn 117S engines provided by Russia.[4] Chinese sources have claimed that production aircraft will be powered by two 13,200 kg/WS-10 class high thrust turbofan engines, coupled with Thrust Vector Controlled (TVC) nozzles both made in China.[4] 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.[11]

The J-20 may have lower supercruise performance and agility than an Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, but the J-20 might have larger weapon bays and might carry more fuel.[12][13] 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.[7][14] The front section of the J-20 is similarly chiseled as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the body and tail resemble those of the Sukhoi T-50 prototype.[15] It is suspected that cyberespionage may have assisted the development of the J-20, with information used by subcontractors of Lockheed Martin – developer of the F-22 – in particular having been significantly compromised during the development timeframe of the J-20.[1]

The J-20 has been described as having a pair of all-moving tailfins and ventral stabilizing fins. It also features an F-22 style nose section,[1] including Caret intakes but with diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) bumps installed at the upper corners, as well as a one-piece canopy. The J-20 also incorporates 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") is being developed for J-20.[1][2][16] The rear of the aircraft includes underwing actuator fairings, axisymmetrical engine exhausts and the ventral fins which may increase the radar cross section (RCS).[1] Carlo Kopp suggests that the J-20's overall design is superior to that of the F-35 or PAK FA and may be eventually comparable to the F-22.[17]

Shih Hiao-wei of Defense International monthly and Bill Sweetman of Aviation Week have said that the excessive number of airfoils on the J-20 will challenge its ability to remain stealthy from all directions.[18][1]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ 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 .
  2. ^ a b c Chinese Military Aviation: J-10, J-11, ... J-20. cnair.top81.cn
  3. ^ "Early Eclipse: F-35 JSF Prospects in the Age of Chinese Stealth". China-Defense on blogspot.com
  4. ^ a b c "Chengdu J-20 – China's 5th Generation Fighter". Defense Update Cite error: The named reference "Defense Update" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ J-XX 4th-Generation Fighter Aircraft. Sinodefence
  6. ^ "J-20 – Denial Is Not An Option". Aviation Week, 28 December 2010
  7. ^ a b Chinese Stealth Fighter Unveiled?, Australian Aviation. 30 December 2010
  8. ^ "Chengdu J-20 China’s first stealth fighter takes to the skies". defenceaviation.com, 30 December 2010
  9. ^ a b "The future of China's fifth-generation stealth fighter". RIA Novisti, 29 December 2010
  10. ^ a b Chengdu J-20: China’s First Stealth Fighter. warisboring.com, 29 December 2010
  11. ^ Page, Jeremy. "A Chinese Stealth Challenge?" Wall Street Journal, 4 January 2010.
  12. ^ "China's Stealth Striker". Aviation Week
  13. ^ "China's Fifth Generation Fighter Exposed". Defense Update
  14. ^ Chinese Military Aviation: J-20 Black Eagle
  15. ^ "China's stealthy military leap". adelaidenow.com.au
  16. ^ Image
  17. ^ "Chengdu J-XX (J-20) Stealth Fighter Prototype". ausairpower.net, 1 January 2011
  18. ^ Emmanuelle Tzeng and Bear Lee "Experts doubt 'stealth' capability of Chinese fighters." Central News Agency of Taiwan, 4 January 2010.
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
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