On 2017 it is a placeholder, yes.
It will likely be replaced with an actual system in due time.
J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread V
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On 2017 it is a placeholder, yes.
It will likely be replaced with an actual system in due time.
Has any J-20 so far been observed to operate (as oppose to ferry) from a training/operational airfield?
I think at least some pre-production j-20s would likely operate on trial basis from normal operational Chinese Air Force fields as part of the pre-production tests before the pre-production series end and actual initial production run starts. If that hasn't happened yet, then I will guess initial low rate production is still at least a year or two away.
I think at least some pre-production j-20s would likely operate on trial basis from normal operational Chinese Air Force fields as part of the pre-production tests before the pre-production series end and actual initial production run starts. If that hasn't happened yet, then I will guess initial low rate production is still at least a year or two away.
J-20s have been seen at Yanliang in Xi'an, which is home to CFTE (Chinese Flight Test Establishment), a test and and evaluation site... which is typically where most tests of prototypes occur, prior to preproduction of a new type.
Once LRIP occurs, the first batch is then typically given to the FTTC (Flight Test Training Centre) to develop tactics.
Also, the 2011 - 2017 doesn't have to be a linear progression in terms of each being stepwise closer in configuration to the operational aircraft than the last. Some airframes are undoubted dedicated to certain types of tests, like sensors tests, others might be for ECM or ECCM tests, and still others for integration tests. The last airframe need not be the integration aircraft. So the fact that ETOS on the 2017 is a place holder doesn't reflect the status of the ETOS suite, only 2017 isn't detailed to test the ETOS.
That is possible, however the fact that the last few 201X prototypes all featured placeholders when they were rolled out and were later replaced by what appeared to be operational sets, makes me think it is likely that 2017 will also get an operation EOIRST in due time.
What I'm more interested in is whether 2011 and 2012 also got operational EOIRST sets as well, or if it's only 2013, 2015 and 2016 (and soon 2017) which have operational EOIRSTs.
Of course, the presence of an EOIRST on the prototypes does not necessarily mean they are being developed in a stepwise manner... each aircraft may have other subsystems that may or may not be present, and each subsystem may have certain software which may or may not be present as well thus depriving or allowing for certain functions of the hardware.
As Bltizo said, if the jets are turned in to Air Force's hands, they will be tested in Yanliang most likely, which means no way to take photos without facing espionage charges.
seems to me too.
since 2015 at far as I see.'2017' in flight...
(1200 x 863)
P.S. Is it just me or does the fuselage taper more from around mid-fuselage toward the rear?
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