Damn! That's a beauty!
BTW, are there any other refinements on the new 2015 airframe besides retractable refuelling probe and the longer and sharper-shaped rear-fuselage horizontal strakes?
AESA radar generational development as I understand the prime issues are simply packing more T/R modules onto limited space and heat dissipation management. Putting it on J-10B was simply a convergence of platform and radar development prevailing at that stage in the cycle.
It is rumoured that the Chinese has been able to pack 1200 T/R modules into J-10B radar and if that was the case then China's radar technology is already on par with the US. I understand the APG77 packs 1500 T/R.
In short, both J-10B and the radar development were not in sync initially but subsequently merged due to timing.
Whereas strangely the images of 2013 are usually not as clear ...
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Hmmm ... I had a similar idea when I saw the image of 2015 just the other page !
Unlikely, China only shows military assets that are already in service. But I assume you can expect to see Y20 and J20 in the 2019 PRC 100th anniversary military paradeAny chances that at least two models of J-20 showing up at the military parade later this year? Maybe 2011 and 2012 flying alongside Y-20 as the "developmental/future" formation?
Basically no info on the whole internet about the EOIRST system on J20. I assume it is a very lastest one.That's true, I missed it completely.
However early photos of 2015 seem to show a mock up instead of the actual EOIRST under the nose, so it must be a relatively recent thing where the prototypes have begun receiving actual EOIRST subsystems.
I expect we might see 2011 and 2012 carry the real working article soon as well.
I suspect this means ground based systems integration and tests of the EOIRST with the rest of the avionics are done, as well as flight tests (assuming they installed it on the Tu-204 testbed), and now the system is finally ready for testing on the actual plane itself.