J-20... The New Generation Fighter

[MwRYum]

Re: New Generation Fighter

Wow that cockpit and canopy looks small... though it's probably just the angle.
I like how CAC has given this plane the whole simple, dark paint scheme. Very menacing. Looks better than the PAK FA's weird fragmented grey scheme and as cool as the F-22's grey camo.

I hope production models follow a similar idea and don't take the whole "black nose" route which PLAAF seems to be so fond of.



Again, don't take everything he says for gospel. I mean the F-22's radar and FBW is pretty damn advanced and China is still playing catch up (though they seem to have caught up with the Russians, and are leading in a few areas). If J-20 can get an AESA as good as the F-22's APG-77 it'll be a good feat.
In terms of the cockpit layout it'll obviously be far more modern than the F-22's multiple screen layout -- probably a single screen display like F-35.

I'm curious if the J-20 will have a 360 degree sensor layout like the F-35 or PAK FA though. Something like the DAS on J-20 could be very useful, and I'd prefer such a system over the T-50's multiple AESA arrays as DAS is passive and better against stealthy targets.
Does anyone have any info on J-20's sensor suite aside from the main AESA?

Something like those? Mind you that was 2 years ago when they showcased those(I don't have this year's Zhuhai photos). So I'd say it's no way far fetch for them to have something like this.
But given China loves to play safe, integrate so many new stuff onto the platform doesn't fit their usual approach, my money would be they get the thing fly first, then gradually integrate all the nice stuff before the final certification.

 

[Martian]

China's J-20 Stealth Fighter (Five clear views)

J-20 Chinese stealth fighter side-view

J-20 Chinese stealth fighter from another angle

J-20 Chinese stealth fighter from a third angle

Frontal view of China's J-20 stealth fighter

China's J-20 stealth fighter on the tarmac

 

[Blitzo]

Re: New Generation Fighter

Something like those? Mind you that was 2 years ago when they showcased those(I don't have this year's Zhuhai photos). So I'd say it's no way far fetch for them to have something like this.
But given China loves to play safe, integrate so many new stuff onto the platform doesn't fit their usual approach, my money would be they get the thing fly first, then gradually integrate all the nice stuff before the final certification.

Something like that.

This year's updated variant seems to make it all touch screen though, like the F-35's display.

 

[Blitzo]

Re: China's J-20 Stealth Fighter (Five clear views)

J-20 Chinese stealth fighter side-view

J-20 Chinese stealth fighter from another angle

J-20 Chinese stealth fighter from a third angle

Frontal view of China's J-20 stealth fighter

China's J-20 stealth fighter on the tarmac

I must say I'm quite surprised at how large this aircraft is. From all pictures it looks like it's around the PAK FA's length. It should have a combat radius comparable or greater than Flankers, simply from J-20's size and the "blending" which will provide a lot of internal fuel tanks.

I think J-20 will be operating at very long ranges with high endurance. If we think about it, this is China's first "real" and "fully indigenous" large aircraft. High Five?
It'll be interesting to see what kind of weaposn bay it'll boast. I'm betting one more similar to the F-22 rather than PAK FA (there's no middle "space" between the engines to put weapons like the latter). Not sure how many missiles J-20 will carry though. Hopefully eight, like the other fighters in its category but its sheer size... might be able to squeeze two more WVR missiles in. Maybe J-20 is so big because China's missiles are a bit larger than Western equivalents? This should be offset in future though, so maybe more space for more ordanance as the weapons get smaller.

Anyway I'm just rambling and we'll get a picture once it flies, hopefully.

 

[Martian]

Advanced radar-cross-section reduction measure?

Frontal view of China's J-20 stealth fighter

Did the designers try to reduce the apparent size of the air intakes that would be visible to an enemy fighter by creating a bulge in the airplane nose? In other words, is it an advanced radar-cross-section reduction measure?

 

[no_name]

Re: New Generation Fighter

Do you think it will be big enough to even fit a Anti-ship missile or two in the internal bay?

 

[Skywatcher]

Re: New Generation Fighter

I believe that those bulges to the back of the nose with be diverterless supersonic intakes (DSI).

 

[dingyibvs]

Re: Advanced radar-cross-section reduction measure?

Frontal view of China's J-20 stealth fighter

Did the designers try to reduce the apparent size of the air intakes that would be visible to an enemy fighter by creating a bulge in the airplane nose? In other words, is it an advanced radar-cross-section reduction measure?

No, it looks like bumps for DSI, and it definitely looks like it has DSI now.

 

[no_name]

Re: New Generation Fighter

Adjustable DSI opening, like some 'insider' leaked?

 

[Blitzo]

Re: New Generation Fighter

Do you think it will be big enough to even fit a Anti-ship missile or two in the internal bay?

I don't think so. Even if an AShM has folding wings its diameter is simply way too big, if the weapon bay is like the F-22's that is. I think the PAK FA can hold a smaller air to ground missile as its bays are "deeper".

There is some talk of an anti ship missile designed to fit the F-35's bomb bays -- but the F-35 is so bulgy it kinda compromises stealth. Unless China can make a very small diameter AShM then I the answer is no.

I believe that those bulges to the back of the nose with be diverterless supersonic intakes (DSI).

I don't think he's talking about the back of the nose, but rather the front -- in which case I think it's just an optical illusion due to the angle of the picture. From every other previous angle the nose is perfectly in proportion.


I wonder how well CAC had paid attention to detail. If closer pictures show lots of serration then I'd definitely say this plane is well done -- I mean even the PAK FA barely had any serration. Keep them coming!