China's V/STOL studies, concepts & considerations

I'm actually very surprised that China seems ready to spend the money necessary to develop the technology for a VSTOL fighter.

I guess this will cost many billions and I don't see how the technology can be used in other aerospace projects (contrary to say general turbofan or turboshaft research).

In order for this investment to be worth it, they would need to build quite a big number of VSTOL fighters and I simply can't see the need for a lot of them. China doesn't have any ships to use them on and if they want a lot of small aircraft carriers it might be easier to build something like carriers.

When Britain built the harrier they expected to build a lot of them so they could use them as CAS in Europe in case the soviets destroyed all the runways.

I don't think the chinese leadership is paranoid enough to consider a similar scenario.

Seems like this is the kind of story we are left with since the Chinese crackdown on taking or posting photos of real projects online. *sigh*

First of all it sounds quite interesting, but how reliable is this ???

Not that I generally mistrust "mil.news.sina.com.cn" it surprises me ... anyway if true I think the most likely option is indeed a research project similar to the J-31/FC-1 right now, that could later eventually led to a serial type.

Overall a step I highly recommend since China so far is not really famous for its research and experimental types to explore new technologies.

Deino

This is not some stories told by rendam guy on sina. It's a national news posted on most Chinese news sites. Most importantly this signing of contract is the headline news on AVIC's own website.

Deino said:

First of all it sounds quite interesting, but how reliable is this ???

Not that I generally mistrust "mil.news.sina.com.cn" it surprises me ... anyway if true I think the most likely option is indeed a research project similar to the J-31/FC-1 right now, that could later eventually led to a serial type.

Overall a step I highly recommend since China so far is not really famous for its research and experimental types to explore new technologies
Deino

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schenkus said:

I'm actually very surprised that China seems ready to spend the money necessary to develop the technology for a VSTOL fighter.

I guess this will cost many billions and I don't see how the technology can be used in other aerospace projects (contrary to say general turbofan or turboshaft research).

In order for this investment to be worth it, they would need to build quite a big number of VSTOL fighters and I simply can't see the need for a lot of them. China doesn't have any ships to use them on and if they want a lot of small aircraft carriers it might be easier to build something like

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carriers.

When Britain built the harrier they expected to build a lot of them so they could use them as CAS in Europe in case the soviets destroyed all the runways.

I don't think the chinese leadership is paranoid enough to consider a similar scenario.

Click to expand...

That's quite a short sighted view. Even if the R & D never passed the development stage nevermind into into an actual product the experiences and knowledge base gained would be invaluable for Chinese aerospace research and development down the road. It doesn't matter if the armed forces doesn't need a VTOL aircraft today or even tomorrow.

AFAIK China do not have any mature and aggresive indigenous program going on in regards to VTOL and direct thrust engine technologies aside from deflected nozzles they learned from the Salyut.

With a growing aerospace industry and development dollars to match I think it is wise if not imperative for China to start investing in ALL aspects of aerospace research which most definitely must include direct thrust engine technologies. the sooner you start researching these things the easier it is to play catch up when the technologies becomes mature.

kickars said:

This is not some stories told by rendam guy on sina. It's a national news posted on most Chinese news sites. Most importantly this signing of contract is the headline news on AVIC's own website.

Click to expand...

Do You have the link of the original AVIC-HP-post ??

This was from the official website of AVIC. The content is as described on post 1.

I'm surprised that AVIC is still using the J-10A with their logo. But, then again, it was their first-born!

janjak desalin said:

I'm surprised that AVIC is still using the J-10A with their logo. But, then again, it was their first-born!

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There's no time quite like your first time.

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On a serious note though, this new fighter project seems to be a bit late to the game. I'm assuming that this is the same "next generation" fighter that was discussed by Yin Zhuo, which would put its maiden flight near ~2020, after which at least half a decade's worth of flight testing is in order. By that time, the PLAMC/N (whichever operates this jet) will be severely outclassed by any neighboring rivals that operate the F-35B, which will most likely have churned out multiple enhanced variants by that time. Of course, that doesn't account for any potential (read: definite) problems with a new TVC engine. But at least it does partially confirm that a LHD is being pursued by the PLAN. The money to be spent on developing this project is better used in bringing about the indefinitely-delayed improved FC-31 variant instead, which has far more solid and realistic prospects than this ambitious program.

Why a lift fan? Wasn't that the source of all the design problems with the JSF program? A STOVL requirement results in a plane with a wide body fuselage that affects its overal speed and maneuverability, limits it to a single engine, plus costs. Domestic engines needed to power the current fifth gen designs, J-20 and J-31, is still premature and the current status of their development is still unknown. Does this contract symbolise an entire new aircraft or a research program into lift fans I don't know, but I think the J-31 is the perfect fifth gen platform for the navy. Personally I think a new aircraft with a lift form is rather late and risky, it would be wiser to continue developing and improving the J-31.