J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread IV (Closed to posting)

[Deino]

... and even more - if the configuration is mature enough - the goal should be to build as many aircraft as possible to enter service with an operational trials and test unit as soon as possible. I'm sure to develop indigenous tactics and operational doctrines suited for the PLAAF will be a large step ahead enough.

By the way I've heard that '2012' had already a second flight ?!

Deino

 

[schenkus]

How important would it be for them to have a number of stealth aircraft flying so they can test the performance of their radars against actual stealth aircraft ?

I guess this kind of data would be important to evaluate both ground or sea based air defence radars
and also the radars on fighter jets and missiles.

If having a small number of stealth airplanes leads to a big improvement of these systems (or the way they are used)
this might be more important than the deployment of the jets themselves.

 

[antiterror13]

Once a design has been validated they need to make a series of pre-production prototypes, in part to quickly explore every use case and scenario, in part to help test and develop manufacturing process, and in part to divide up testing of subsystems. This stage is usually indicative of the design being frozen, unless something critical shows up in testing. I suspect we will eventually see some changes to things like surface finish or panel geometry, but otherwise we shouldn't expect anymore perceptible changes to the plane's overall shape.

So, it proves the design has been frozen .... I tend to believe this baby will enter service earlier than PAK-FA

 

[Skywatcher]

Why would they need to produce many prototypes at roughly the same time? I thought the principle of having a prototype is to improve the next prototype based on the findings of the previous prototype? no?

If you are building the prototypes with a large amount of 3D parts, a larger number of flying prototypes would allow you to see if you've got the right quality control measures for a new production technology.

 

[Air Force Brat]

Once a design has been validated they need to make a series of pre-production prototypes, in part to quickly explore every use case and scenario, in part to help test and develop manufacturing process, and in part to divide up testing of subsystems. This stage is usually indicative of the design being frozen, unless something critical shows up in testing. I suspect we will eventually see some changes to things like surface finish or panel geometry, but otherwise we shouldn't expect anymore perceptible changes to the plane's overall shape.

Well we shouldn't rule out changes, after all the YF-22 configuration was tweaked to create the production F-22, but this is a big positive on the general configuration being good to go, each aircraft is a test article, and will likely be dedicated and instrumented to a particular test function, airwork, avionics, ground test, structural testing, in short they will each have a specific role to play in addition to regular flight testing? It does show they were very busy during the time that we were "faunching at the bit", the East China Sea ADIZ will no doubt encourage a renewed interest and perception that this is a worthy project, and will fill a vital need, I would say this project has been "injected" with some urgency.

 

[Jeff Head]

Actually that makes quite a lot of sense, with the long period since 2002 and the introduction of 2011, it is likely they were building a small batch of pre-production prototypes, that makes lots of sense, I hope that's true for you guys, I know how excited I would be to see four new top-line fighter prototypes...

I believe there were a total of eight test F-22s. Russia has supposedly ordered ten initial PAKFAs. So having six or eight of the J-20s is not unusual...and it certainly implies that the 2011 variety is close to what they will consider initial production.

 

[SamuraiBlue]

I believe there were a total of eight test F-22s. Russia has supposedly ordered ten initial PAKFAs. So having six or eight of the J-20s is not unusual...and it certainly implies that the 2011 variety is close to what they will consider initial production.

If it is eight all together then the plan has a problem since you count the airframes used for static stress test as well.

 

[Deino]

Exactly my thoughts ... if You compare it to the ATF/F-22 program, so the '2001' & '2002' demonstrators are probably comparable to the YF-22 and the current '201x'-serials are equal to the EMD-aircrafts ...

Just my two cents, but dear friends ... I have to leave right now.

See all in three weeks.
Deino

 

[cyan1320]

If it is eight all together then the plan has a problem since you count the airframes used for static stress test as well.

How is it a problem?? Do we know for sure it's eight? hold on a minute, lets walk into the hanger to count them again =P
Your making assumptions

 

[vesicles]

How is it a problem?? Do we know for sure it's eight? hold on a minute, lets walk into the hanger to count them again =P
Your making assumptions

Do we know why they skipped 2003-2010? Would these be static testbeds?