J-20 5th Generation Fighter VII

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gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
I think the main issue with the J-20 is that while it is a lot more complex than the F-35 because of the internal weapons carriage it can only store the same amount of 4x long range air to air missiles. It does have the advantage of the short range missile side bays but do you even want to get to short range with the J-20? Compare this with the F-15 or the F-14 or MiG-31 which could carry a lot more missiles externally.
I think they need to figure out some way to store at least 50% more missiles internally. i.e. 6x long range air to air missiles.
The J-20 should be faster and more maneuverable when it gets the latest generation engines. But I think unless they increase its payload, sensors, and multiple-target engagement enough, it will be hard to counter the F-35's numbers in Asia.

There is always the chance that China will develop their own single engine stealth aircraft to counter the F-35 and replace the J-10 but so far we haven't heard anything about it. And no, a twin-engine aircraft like the FC-31 is not a proper counter because it will cost a lot more in man-hours to build than a single engine aircraft. Just look at the Russians experience with the MiG-29 and the Su-27. For like 20% less cost you get a vastly worse aircraft with like half the payload and much less range. It makes no sense except for naval air arm.
 

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
I think the main issue with the J-20 is that while it is a lot more complex than the F-35 because of the internal weapons carriage it can only store the same amount of 4x long range air to air missiles. It does have the advantage of the short range missile side bays but do you even want to get to short range with the J-20? Compare this with the F-15 or the F-14 or MiG-31 which could carry a lot more missiles externally.
I think they need to figure out some way to store at least 50% more missiles internally. i.e. 6x long range air to air missiles.
The J-20 should be faster and more maneuverable when it gets the latest generation engines. But I think unless they increase its payload, sensors, and multiple-target engagement enough, it will be hard to counter the F-35's numbers in Asia.

There is always the chance that China will develop their own single engine stealth aircraft to counter the F-35 and replace the J-10 but so far we haven't heard anything about it. And no, a twin-engine aircraft like the FC-31 is not a proper counter because it will cost a lot more in man-hours to build than a single engine aircraft. Just look at the Russians experience with the MiG-29 and the Su-27. For like 20% less cost you get a vastly worse aircraft with like half the payload and much less range. It makes no sense except for naval air arm.

They can store six next generation AA missiles in the main bay as per Yankeesama.
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
I have also heard claims of the possibility to store 6x AA missiles but so far we haven't seen this confirmed as operational.
 

stannislas

Junior Member
Registered Member
One thing I always thought since the normal PLAAF the A2A configuration is only 4 missiles, 2xBVRAAM and 2xSRVVM, even 6 missiles config (4xBVRAAM and 2xSRVVM) are relatively rare. So in Zhuhai Airshow, J-20 with 4xPL-15 may not be its maximum load config, it may just be its conventional A2A config. Even F-22 rarely carry 6 AMRAAMs in A2A mission convention, but again NATO or the US normally did a much better job in PR and advertising than the Chinese...
 

Temstar

Brigadier
Registered Member
One thing I always thought since the normal PLAAF the A2A configuration is only 4 missiles, 2xBVRAAM and 2xSRVVM, even 6 missiles config (4xBVRAAM and 2xSRVVM) are relatively rare. So in Zhuhai Airshow, J-20 with 4xPL-15 may not be its maximum load config, it may just be its conventional A2A config. Even F-22 rarely carry 6 AMRAAMs in A2A mission convention, but again NATO or the US normally did a much better job in PR and advertising than the Chinese...
Isn't the six missile config what J-20 are actually flying with? 4 X PL-15 in the main bay and 2 x PL-10 in the small side bays?
 

lcloo

Captain
J20 is has external pylon fittings, so if they develop stealth pod housing for BVR missiles for external pylons, that would be another 2 to 4 extended range BVR missiles (PL-20 or PL-21 - 300 to 400km range?) that can be launched at 200km range or beyond.

We have seen photo of J20 with external fuel tanks attached. So there is no question of external pylon fittings on J20.

The stealth pylon housing can be dropped after missiles are launched. Restoring J20's original stealth 100 to 200km from enemy.
 
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latenlazy

Brigadier
J20 is has external pylon fittings, so if they develop stealth pod housing for BVR missiles for external pylons, that would be another 2 to 4 BVR missiles (PL-20 or PL-21) that can be launched at 200km range or beyond.

We have seen photo of J20 with external fuel tanks attached. So there is no question of external pylon fittings on J20.

The stealth pylon housing can be dropped after missiles are launched. Restoring J20's original stealth 100 to 200km from enemy.
Or...everyone can just wait for the new missiles.
 

stannislas

Junior Member
Registered Member
Isn't the six missile config what J-20 are actually flying with? 4 X PL-15 in the main bay and 2 x PL-10 in the small side bays?
no, what I mean is that there is plenty of space for the main weapon with only 4xpl-15, so the maximum load config could be 6xpl-15 in the main weapon bay. J-20 may have this ability, but PLAAF decides only show us the regular a2a mission 4xpl-15 config
 
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