kwaigonegin
Colonel
Is the Sierra in LRIP or in full prod mode?
J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
Any news on the folding-fins version of the PL-15? I know some mockups were shown at Zhuhai 2024, but they were named the "PL-15E" so I'm not sure if they sidegrade meant for the export market. This export-orientated sidegrade may sacrifice critical fundamentals (e.g., range) but have foldable fins as a tradeoff, something I don't think the PLAAF would go for.
If a non-downgraded PL-15 can get foldable fins as a straight upgrade, perhaps the J-20 could hold 5x or 6x PL-15s internally. This isn't just a "nice-to-have" upgrade, it should be considered important because of the upcoming Sidekick upgrade for the F-35. If that thing works out as advertised, I'll be impressed at just how much the Americans can pack into that tiny single-engine fighter.
Perhaps this is semantics, but would you say the J-20 was designed to be firstly an air-superiority fighter and with interceptor as its emphasised secondary role, or firstly as an interceptor with air-superiority as the emphasised secondary role?
It seems to be clearer that the J-35 was designed as a multirole fighter with an emphasis on air-superiority, as like how the F-35 is a multirole with an emphasis on strike.
It seems to be clearer that the J-35 was designed as a multirole fighter with an emphasis on air-superiority, as like how the F-35 is a multirole with an emphasis on strike.
Official confirmations?
And are there any photos yet? If they've been officially confirmed we should be able to see them in photos. No rush, but we should be seeing them at some point.
The J-20 should be regarded as an air superiority fighter above all else, period.
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You cannot tell me that the J-20's design was made entirely for air-superiority. Sure, its optimised for it, but that huge size (=fuel), long-coupled canards (=high-speed stability) and decision to omit TVC (both 2D and 3D) in lieu of preserving max thrust suggests it also values its interceptor role very highly. Surely the platform could have been made an even better air-superiority machine if it dropped all the tradeoffs it made for interceptor capabilities. Unless those tradeoffs weren't actually tradeoffs (we don't have the numbers to confirm)?
Yes this is semantics, but I don't want to say that the J-20 is the best pure air-superiority platform China could produce because that would mean they made some odd decisions.
Interceptor functionality came by itself，as is normal for modern high performance fighter.
Unlikely it was a prominent design consideration which could interfere in any way with air superiority.
None of those have any relationship whatsoever with interceptor qualities.
If you want to look at aircraft that do in fact make sacrifices for interceptor qualities - look at flankers and felon(for the latter multirole, too). But J-20 - where?
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Hi,
Stealth fighters like J20 & F22 type will always be considered air superiority fighters
specific to USA and China even some extent Russia stealth fighters are dedicated for
Awacas and tanker to be eliminated including first oncoming wave of opponents, once
these targets been eliminated rest of the bombing missions will be carried out by J15/16
F15/18 & in Lieu of Russians SU fighters.
so we can say stealth basic function is to take on lead to eliminate on coming threat and
make way for the chasing jets for carpet bombing run kind of mission etc
thank you
Stealth fighters like J20 & F22 type will always be considered air superiority fighters
specific to USA and China even some extent Russia stealth fighters are dedicated for
Awacas and tanker to be eliminated including first oncoming wave of opponents, once
these targets been eliminated rest of the bombing missions will be carried out by J15/16
F15/18 & in Lieu of Russians SU fighters.
so we can say stealth basic function is to take on lead to eliminate on coming threat and
make way for the chasing jets for carpet bombing run kind of mission etc
thank you