Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

S

sndef888

Senior Member
Registered Member
We keep hearing the J-20 has production issues, but what is actually the issue? Is it really cheaper to build a whole new "cheaper" fighter than to invest in the J20's production capacity
 
O

ougoah

Brigadier
Registered Member
sndef888 said:
We keep hearing the J-20 has production issues, but what is actually the issue? Is it really cheaper to build a whole new "cheaper" fighter than to invest in the J20's production capacity
Click to expand...

Literally have no idea where you got J-20 has production issues. Apart from Inst (I don't even recall him speculating this), I don't think anyone thinks that J-20 has production issue where every indicator and leak suggest that production is at least as fast as J-10C.
 
Deino

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
ougoah said:
Literally have no idea where you got J-20 has production issues. Apart from Inst (I don't even recall him speculating this), I don't think anyone thinks that J-20 has production issue where every indicator and leak suggest that production is at least as fast as J-10C.
Click to expand...


I can only agree, even more since the J-20 is not - as we say in Germany - eine "eierlegende Wollmilchsau" (a pig that lays eggs, gives milk and wool) ;) ! There are roles, which does not require a large twin-engined stealth fighter, there are roles, for which the J-20 eventually is not ideally suited, the J-20 is too large, too heavy, too expensive to replace all types in PLAAF service and even more it has an important industrial-political role: the keep SAC in the fighter business.

However - and please don't rate this as an issue - I don't think that the J-20 "production is at least as fast as J-10C"! We have seen 28 J-10Cs and "only" 7 J-20As with three more allegedly on the other side of the hangars left (making altogether 10), so that i expect the current production rate roughly 1/2 or even only 1/3 of the J-10's rate. But that is only my guess.

J-10C and J-20A at CAC - 202101 + notes.jpg
 
I

Inst

Captain
ougoah said:
Literally have no idea where you got J-20 has production issues. Apart from Inst (I don't even recall him speculating this), I don't think anyone thinks that J-20 has production issue where every indicator and leak suggest that production is at least as fast as J-10C.
Click to expand...
A cautious perspective would rate low numbers of J-20 in service, when the PLAAF has a pressing need for 4/5th gens. However, by this point, production issues are basically phantasmal. If China wants J-20s faster, all it has to do is to pay for more production lines to come online (and knowing China, this can be done in less than a year).

@sndef888: the J-20 is using new technologies, including 3D printed titanium and stealth composite airframes. It's likely going to require time to get the materials up to speed. Moreover, the J-20's previous reliance on AL-31 and AL-31 derivatives basically made Russian production a bottleneck. On WS-10s, the Chinese control the entire supply chain and can increase production of all parts as needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top