J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VI

[Bhurki]

The PL-15 is not a VLRAAM. China’s VLRAAM is a much longer missile that won’t fit into the J-20’s weapons bay.

The main problem with fitting 6 PL-15 isn’t the missile body diameter, but the fin diameter. That said, if an updated missile that could fit 6 involved some shrinkage of the missile body that shrinkage won’t be by much.

My bad on forgetting about the pl 21... I meant isnt there an understanding between aircraft design houses and ordnance manufacturers to create specifications adhering to the capabilities required? If j 20 is bound to carry pl15 and its adversary already does carry 6 missiles, then it does make sense to design the weapon bay in accordance tomissile size..

 

[latenlazy]

My bad on forgetting about the pl 21... I meant isnt there an understanding between aircraft design houses and ordnance manufacturers to create specifications adhering to the capabilities required? If j 20 is bound to carry pl15 and its adversary already does carry 6 missiles, then it does make sense to design the weapon bay in accordance tomissile size..

The PL-15 was an offshoot from the PL-12’s developments. Presumably, from what we’ve heard through alleged insiders, the J-20’s weapons bay was originally spec’d to fit 6 cropped/folded fin PL-12s, but the PL-15’s development happened after the bay dimensions had been locked. While the missile body was similar in dimensions to the PL-12, the fins were not. The PLAAF was left with the decision between packing more of a less capable MRAAM or less of a more capable MRAAM. It seems (at least based on what scraps of information and observations we can put together) that the decision was made to keep the PL-15 the way it is and maximize its capabilities rather than reduce its capabilities to fit 6 inside the J-20, and leave the effort to fit 6 higher capability MRAAMs for a future missile iteration.

 

[Bhurki]

The PL-15 was an offshoot from the PL-12’s developments. Presumably, from what we’ve heard through alleged insiders, the J-20’s weapons bay was originally spec’d to fit 6 cropped/folded fin PL-12s, but the PL-15’s development happened after the bay dimensions had been locked. While the missile body was similar in dimensions to the PL-12, the fins were not. The PLAAF was left with the decision between packing more of a less capable MRAAM or less of a more capable MRAAM. It seems (at least based on what scraps of information and observations we can put together) that the decision was made to keep the PL-15 the way it is and maximize its capabilities rather than reduce its capabilities to fit 6 inside the J-20, and leave the effort to fit 6 higher capability MRAAMs for a future missile iteration.

Any chance of a folding fin modification ?
In my opinion though, even with folding fins they wouldnt be able to store six of these in the bays because the length of the missile covers the entire length of the bay..
In comparison, f 22 fits the aim 120 in staggered form and that too with middle missile shifted to the front.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

A bay for a PL20 sized missile would demand a fighter in the size range of a small regional bomber.
There are limits to size vs range requirements (Fuel) + seaker + warhead.

 

[latenlazy]

Any chance of a folding fin modification ?
In my opinion though, even with folding fins they wouldnt be able to store six of these in the bays because the length of the missile covers the entire length of the bay..
In comparison, f 22 fits the aim 120 in staggered form and that too with middle missile shifted to the front by about a foot.

From the sources we typically count on to provide us with information about new developments, there’s already a new missile in the works that will succeed the PL-15 which is intended to fit 6 within the J-20. It remains to be seen what this missile will look like.

 

[Blitzo]

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

According to an interview with the 14th Institute, J-20 and J-16 already use the three-array AESA configuration seen on the latest variant of KLJ-7A!

That's definitely not impossible, on J-20 I've wondered if the "long grey strip" at the front of the nose sitting immediately behind the side nose EOPDS aperture may be that.


Three array AESAs certainly are not rare these days

 

[plawolf]

That's definitely not impossible, on J-20 I've wondered if the "long grey strip" at the front of the nose sitting immediately behind the side nose EOPDS aperture may be that.


Three array AESAs certainly are not rare these days

Those grey strips seem a bit too small to be worthwhile arrays, especially given how narrow they are, and their facing based on the shaping of the plane.

If those are side arrays, they will pretty much only be able to scan downwards, with very limited look up capability.

The small overall area would also significantly limit range.

 

[by78]

Some more high-resolution images of J-20 at Zhuhai...

 

[by78]

 

[by78]