Guys, would you care to fill me in here. My understanding is that there were two next gen projects in development, a strategic bomber and a theater bomber. I will leave out the designations that I have seen floating around because those are mostly guesswork. In addition there are J-16 and JH-7B which are different from the previous two aircraft. Is there any new information on a different aircraft type?? What are these separate projects that huitong has mentioned?
H-20 bomber (with H-X, JH-XX)
- Thread starter Deino
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Guys, would you care to fill me in here. My understanding is that there were two next gen projects in development, a strategic bomber and a theater bomber. I will leave out the designations that I have seen floating around because those are mostly guesswork. In addition there are J-16 and JH-7B which are different from the previous two aircraft. Is there any new information on a different aircraft type?? What are these separate projects that huitong has mentioned?
If you are referring to the aircraft that has been discussed in the last page or so, its supposedly a Chinese SU-34 like striker that huitong has called the J-18, and there were a few rumors several days ago about a new type of aircraft having its first flight but this has not been confirmed yet.
yes i'm referring to the aircraft being discussed. So this is SAC's long awaited theater bomber and not XAC's strategic project, then? There was a supposedly blurred out grayscale picture of this aircraft that was posted last year or so. Its also interesting that a Su-34 like configuration is being rumored now-- somewhat disappointing for me because I had come to expect a YB-23 like configuration, like the model from an exhibition that was displayed last year.
At the current moment we still don't know if this project is real so we can't really say for sure this is SAC's new striker/bomber, and yes, this is not the XAC's H-X bomber which will, if rumors are to be believed, a flying wing shaped bomber. And yes, I agree that if the J-18 does turn out to be true, I too will be a bit disappointed, but the model we saw a few years ago is called the H-18 and the latest rumors also say that the H-18 is under development at SAC. IMO though, I highly doubt that there are two projects going on at the same time, at the same institute, and both the J-18 and H-18 will presumably have the same roles, so it'll make little to no sense as to develop both.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
In a Traditional in line configuration fighter the Pilot and Copilot are more or less oblivious to each other. each has there instruments and can hear the other through the intercom but that's where there interaction ends.
Tandem cockpits however allow direct inter action. The Pilots can see and directly communicate with each other. It also means that they have ready access to the same controls and interfaces. Entry level flight trainers often use Tandem cockpits as it allows the nugget to see the actions of the instructor and visa versa.
the key disadvantage for a fighter or supersonic fighter of a tandem cockpit is that it adds drag. I mean you basically have two traditional cockpits sitting on each other. If you're a Bomber or a Transport with a wide Fuselage that's no problem but Flankers were started as fighters and fighters need a sleek low drag hull.
Tandem cockpits however allow direct inter action. The Pilots can see and directly communicate with each other. It also means that they have ready access to the same controls and interfaces. Entry level flight trainers often use Tandem cockpits as it allows the nugget to see the actions of the instructor and visa versa.
the key disadvantage for a fighter or supersonic fighter of a tandem cockpit is that it adds drag. I mean you basically have two traditional cockpits sitting on each other. If you're a Bomber or a Transport with a wide Fuselage that's no problem but Flankers were started as fighters and fighters need a sleek low drag hull.
Stealthy flying wing strategic bomber is XAC, called H-20
Stealthy supersonic theatre bomber is SAC, sometimes called H-18, the one that looked like YF-23
This Su-34 look-alike is also SAC, and apparently called J-18, which is also technically speaking a theatre bomber but completely different in terms of capability to H-18
We are not sure if the stealthy theatre bomber of SAC is still ongoing or not.
There are also no indications that the H-18 project had "become" the J-18.
@Terran
I believe tandem cockpits to be one behind the other.
It Escapes at the moment but what was the 2 crewed side by side seating strike aircraft used on US carriers from Vietnam era until its replacement?
@vesicles
The Su34 is sloted to replace the Su24 which also has side by side seating.So I guess the Russians are quite happy with that design approch.
I believe tandem cockpits to be one behind the other.
It Escapes at the moment but what was the 2 crewed side by side seating strike aircraft used on US carriers from Vietnam era until its replacement?
@vesicles
The Su34 is sloted to replace the Su24 which also has side by side seating.So I guess the Russians are quite happy with that design approch.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
The A 6E were probably the most extensively used side by side attack/strike aircraft during the vietnam war by the the us navy.
Well, I certainly could be wrong...but I just find it hard to believe that the Chinese are developing their own SU-34 type aircraft.
I do not see them needing it.
They are already developing an upgrade to the JH-7A as I understand it, and they are most definitely developing the J-16 strike aircraft.
I believe the initial picture shown is a PS, and not real at all...and it is what has led to the huge volume of posts (here and elsewhere) about it.
The Russians needed to replace the old SU-24. Their SU-34 does that.
The Chinese JH-7A is a good aircraft, and is not "over the hill." But an upgraded aircraft (JH-7B) will address whatever new capabilities it may need IMHO.
Oh well, time will tell.
I do not see them needing it.
They are already developing an upgrade to the JH-7A as I understand it, and they are most definitely developing the J-16 strike aircraft.
I believe the initial picture shown is a PS, and not real at all...and it is what has led to the huge volume of posts (here and elsewhere) about it.
The Russians needed to replace the old SU-24. Their SU-34 does that.
The Chinese JH-7A is a good aircraft, and is not "over the hill." But an upgraded aircraft (JH-7B) will address whatever new capabilities it may need IMHO.
Oh well, time will tell.