SinoSoldier
Colonel
A few "rumors" here and there; nothing too official.
New single engine stealth fighter by chengdu?
- Thread starter Richard Santos
- Start date
A few "rumors" here and there; nothing too official.
O.k. ... so the typical situation of a project at such an early stage. Could this be a hint for the FC-31V2 being preferred ... ??
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Possibly, although there are strong hints that the PLAAF has never considered the FC-31 in the first place. However, there has been plenty of rumors regarding a semi-stealthy "J-10D", which could be the single-engine J-XX that everyone is talking about.
Could you post links to these rumours?
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Uiuiuiui ... interesting times ahead !
Indeed, indeed.
Instead of the conventional hi-lo mix everyone expects them to have, the PLAAF might instead adopt one composed of a 5th-gen and a 4th-gen on steroids.
If true, and if brought to fruition, China's future fighter fleet might consist only of aircraft hailing from Dr Song's research. We could call this fleet a Song Fleet.
Or even the Song dynasty? I'm highly skeptical of a small stealth jet, just doesn't make sense with internal carriages. I'm glad the J-11D is getting the axe too, I don't see the point of a plane that essentially fills the exact same role as the J-20, but worse in every aspect.
PiSigma
"the engineer"
Smaller planes used for area defense only doesn't need stealth. They can design a smallish plane, single engine with all the bells and whistles of a 5th gen but minus the stealth aspect or less stealth to save cost.
Remember the US air force and navy are designed for attacking/fighting away from home turf. Whereas the Chinese air force at the moment and near future is meant to defend Chinese space. With J20 there is already an aggressive wing to the air force they don't have before.
So if there will be a light fighter it can incorporate stealth, but I don't think it is going to be primarily designed for it. Primary goal is probably to be able to fill air force numbers to eventually replace J10 and older with all the best stuff. And if they can get some stealth into it and not break the bank, great.
Whereas F35 wanted the best of everything wrapped in a stealth package and thousands of planes, that breaks banks.
Remember the US air force and navy are designed for attacking/fighting away from home turf. Whereas the Chinese air force at the moment and near future is meant to defend Chinese space. With J20 there is already an aggressive wing to the air force they don't have before.
So if there will be a light fighter it can incorporate stealth, but I don't think it is going to be primarily designed for it. Primary goal is probably to be able to fill air force numbers to eventually replace J10 and older with all the best stuff. And if they can get some stealth into it and not break the bank, great.
Whereas F35 wanted the best of everything wrapped in a stealth package and thousands of planes, that breaks banks.
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