J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII

[siegecrossbow]

Of course, while described as a loyal wingman, the report only mentions that the "unmanned wingman" took the lead and attacked the armored formations on the ground. It might just a GJ-11/21, not necessarily the UCAV shown in the parade.

I think it is most likely GJ-11 since even though the air superiority/loyal wingman drones shown during parade are not vaporware, they aren’t mature enough for large scale exercise yet, at least not in 2025. But even if they are GJ-11 that’s a capability not found anywhere else in the world.

 

[Blitzo]

While it's described as a loyal wingman, the report only mentions that "the MUM-T formation roared past, with the 'unmanned wingman' leading the charge, attacking the armored formations on the ground."

It might just GJ-11/21, not necessarily the UCAV shown in the parade.

I agree as well, though technically even strike stealthy UCAVs like GJ-11/21 can still fit in the term of a "loyal wingman" or "unmanned wingman".

Given the scale and nature of this exercise being simulated as a somewhat multi-domain one, chances are this was a rather large scale exercise using aircraft which are actively in service (rather than IOT&E, which the CCAs/UADFs in the parade were and likely are still at), so it makes sense that in this case it was probably GJ-11.

 

[bsdnf]

The report also mentions some intriguing details: a group of top pilots from various units within the PLAAF have been transferred here to serve as instructors.

"Best-case" scenario: They serve as the OPFOR Blue Force.
"Worst-case" scenario: They don’t even take to the skies themselves; they are instructors for unmanned wingmen. AI ruthlessly destroys every job

 

[siegecrossbow]

The report also mentions some intriguing details: a group of top pilots from various units within the PLAAF have been transferred here to serve as instructors.

"Best-case" scenario: They serve as the OPFOR Blue Force.
"Worst-case" scenario: They don’t even take to the skies themselves; they are instructors for unmanned wingmen.

They are pretty much used to train data set for the loyal wingman, so worst case scenario.

 

[Blitzo]

The report also mentions some intriguing details: a group of top pilots from various units within the PLAAF have been transferred here to serve as instructors.

"Best-case" scenario: They serve as the OPFOR Blue Force.
"Worst-case" scenario: They don’t even take to the skies themselves; they are instructors for unmanned wingmen. AI ruthlessly destroys every job

To be honest, the most useful role to play would be having them impart their lessons to new participants of the exercises, in a more systematized and formalized manner, ala Weapons School in the USAF.

Classroom teaching and disseminating knowledge and experience in an organized pipeline is underrated.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

They are pretty much used to train data set for the loyal wingman, so worst case scenario.

Probably won't take long until we see those high-tier UADFs capable of doing "Mihaly" at the enemy F-22s and F-35s while the J-20s/As/Ss and J-35/As just sit back and relax in the far rear.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Probably won't take long until we see those high-tier UADFs capable of doing "Mihaly" at the enemy F-22s and F-35s while the J-20s/As/Ss and J-35/As just sit back and relax in the far rear.

They will be ready soon. As per Yankeesama they already performed really well in trial exercises. Only downside is that they have a penchant for stealing kills from their pilot partners which makes the egoistical pilots mad.

Make no mistakes — UADF are not grunt sacrificial pawns but high value assets of their own, occupying a similar niche in air dominance and GJ-11/21 do in precision strike.

 

[Blitzo]

They will be ready soon. As per Yankeesama they already performed really well in trial exercises. Only downside is that they have a penchant for stealing kills from their pilot partners which makes the egoistical pilots mad.

Make no mistakes — UADF are not grunt sacrificial pawns but high value assets of their own, occupying a similar niche in air dominance and GJ-11/21 do in precision strike.

One of the hard parts of getting CCAs and UADFs working, imo won't just be the application of tactics in the air, but how to organizationally base them in context of the overall tactical fighter aircraft force, what the proportion should be, and what sort of peacetime training and readiness would be optimal for the CCA/UADF fleet.

I could see widespread fielding of these platforms somewhat bottlenecked by this.

 

[Blitzo]

Various posts deleted, off topic speculation about Yang Wei. Come on guys.

 

[Tomboy]

One of the hard parts of getting CCAs and UADFs working, imo won't just be the application of tactics in the air, but how to organizationally base them in context of the overall tactical fighter aircraft force, what the proportion should be, and what sort of peacetime training and readiness would be optimal for the CCA/UADF fleet.

I could see widespread fielding of these platforms somewhat bottlenecked by this.

Would you say it would be better for these to be based separately? IMO, given how UADFs are advertised as standalone fully autonomous fighters and not really like CCAs which are meant to be slaved to manned fighters, they'd possibly get their own basing to carry out separate missions and patrols.