Ask anything Thread (Air Force)
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Very bad J-20 training model for fire fighting exercise.
I have a question regarding most of the leaked photos of PLA's newest equipments. Like the recent "leaked" photos of the 2055 (J-20), these photos are state supported right (since they aren't banned on weibo)? Does the PLA propaganda dept just take photos and regularly feed it to some PLA bloggers? Or do PLA bloggers just take regular photos then ask the PLA for permission to leak them online?
Chinese wikipedia is pretty accurate for ships.
Anything for english speakers?
Just use this site and then translate it
My 2 cents based on past observation
I don't think there is any formal system like that. My reasoning is something like CV18 where formal warnings are being issued, but so many people flying into Shanghai are snapping shots if they can.
There are basically 3 development phases
1 - Totally closed - if anything leaks it gets censored/removed
2 - Open secret - There are still aspects that are secret and can get censored, but the military is okay with photos. Can be seen as a "stealth" intro. With 2055, they had like an outdoor gathering with banners, so it's basically like an open season for photographers, they obviously knew that was going to happen. However, we still don't know detailed specs, etc.
3 - Formal introduction - like FC-31 at the airshow, CCTV program, etc.
Is it possible that the PLA is doing point 2 themselves? Certainly it is possible. However, we see enough candid shots that aren't particularly flattering (the FC-31 on the back of a truck covered in a tarp), what would be the point of that (maybe disinformation at best)?
PLA bloggers (for the most part) are clearly not asking for permission, otherwise the forums would not have been shut down.
Is there any practical application for LIDAR in an modern air force? Especially over radar? It has less vastly less range and can be more easily blocked by physical objects, but it's much more accurate and is much more detailed and much harder to jam. Is it possible to have a anti-air missile have a LIDAR targeting system kick in during the last portion of it's flight for more accurate targeting? Or replace the radar systems on shorter range weapon platforms like helicopter or drones with a LIDAR system?