While I agree that may be possible, wouldn't that be rather unprecedented?
I mean the way I see it there are two likely explanations for why they pulled it (if it is indeed pulled).
1: is that they pulled it because the video was accurate and accidentally revealed information that they shouldn't have. This would not be unprecedented for Chinese media to retroactively remove sensitive military information from a previous disclosure or a place hosting such information, though usually this is online or on forums
2: is that they pulled it because the information in the video was inaccurate, and for some reason they felt compelled to remove or rectify that false information. This to me is a little bit more doubtful though not entirely unprecedented, for example the recent Navy awkwardly PSed anniversary picture they put up on social media which they ended up apologizing for.
My question is if we are tending towards reason 2, then that means reason 1 is considered less likely -- i.e.: that the information in the video is hard to believe or doesn't jive with what we currently know about J-20's engine situation.
My question is, is there anything in the video which is inherently difficult to believe? It seems to me the biggest issue is the claim that J-20's engines are assembled at Liming, but there are ways to interpret that statementw which might be logical.
OTOH, the idea that they might scrub a video because it accidentally mentions Emei which is a fairly sensitive and important project IMO is quite believable.
That said, I suppose if they end up putting a modified portion of the video back online later with one part changed to rectify information then I suppose that would lend credence to reason 2. but until then, I think reason 1 is just as plausible
In general I completely agree with Your analysis: However that still not answers the red part in Your post:
But even if I agree with You, there are on the one side so many theories around - some more, some less likely - and second, there are by rationale not many options on the table. So what is the most likely one ??
The issue is simply from all reliable reports we know, the WS-15 has reached a certain milestone and is allegedly ready for a first test (IMO on the Il-76LL at best), however it is surely far-far away from being already integrated in these few LRIP aircraft and even less it is flying from day-one.
The issue raised up again with this latest CCTV-report that got some hype by the usual suspects in certain forums as being prove that the WS-15 is ready, that the WS-15 is available already in 4 versions and the most powerful one delivering 24t of thrust.
As far as I however understand this report:
- No single word mentions the specific engine type used on the J-20,
- no single word mentions WS-10B or even WS-15 ??
- All this report says quite mysteriously, the "J-20 uses a locally manufactured engine" and it merely mentioned Liming factory.
As such my question - and I think it is not unjustified - even if I fully understand that some don't like my questions since they are fully happy with the plain report or information that the "J-20 uses a locally manufactured engine" or maybe fear the facts. But as long as we don't know its true designation nor any specific data, I don't see this discussion in no way as a finally closed case. Hope You don't mind.
In essence, what are the facts we know ? (= not much) and what are the theories (= some more or less likely while others are pure wet-dreams) ?
Here the possibilities:
1. An AL-31FN or uprated AL-31FN-based design (IMO based on the M2 and IMO the mots likely option) maybe localyl manufactured at Shenyang/Liming ? (it would explain "locally manufactured")
2. A WS-10B or even a rumoured WS-10/AL-31FN-Frankenstein-hybrid (IMO technically unlikely)
3. already a WS-15-prototype or WS-10/WS-15-hybrid as an intermediate development delivering between 17t to (IMO the joke of the day) 24t !!
So what's Your take?
Deino
