EDIATH
Junior Member
That actually isn't far off. If equipped with a 4000x4000 pixel image of say, a F-22 raptor, you can measure the approximate angles of it's shaping, which is what Kopp claimed the Chinese did in the first place. Not to mention the Chinese probably took some know-how from that former B-2 engineer that they bought plans from.
But the question is, what's the point to mimic the exact angles from a F-22 photo since they have been testing models in labs (simulating radar wave transmissions and stuff) for decades? You don't seriouly believe someone would simply copy such a sophisticated design feature without testing its functionalities? Then all those testings should yield pretty much the same result since there're only a few bands applicable for radars on modern fighters. Let's face it, stealth design of an aircraft's shape is achieved through try & error, it's the method of testing that counts, unlike some sort of magical formula in chemistry, one can be inspired by another but simply copying another shape is out of the question.
Another example is DSI inlet, surely the LM team behind F-35 came up with it first. Afterwards designers at CAC decided to follow up with the study, but only after they went through all of the necessary calculations about how the airflow being affected by this design before they implement it on their own product. Photos of F-35 are available for every designer to reference on, how come only those at CAC manage to learn the trick? Because it's a complex studying process, not a simple copy & paste job.