J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread V

[Air Force Brat]

There is just one minor problem with the J-20. And that is the plane still doesn't have its intended engine the WS-15. If the J-20 should enter production in the next few years it will be with an uprated WS-10 or AL-31. The plane will be significantly underpowered. I suppose that the plane will pay for it in terms of maneuverability. Since the J-20 never flown on "full power" so to speak it never shown its full maneuvering capabilities if not speed and there for the plane is in part still untested. And when the WS-15 does become available the J-20 might need a new round of testing and perhabs some redesigning of its software if not airframe.

Whether they fly it with the AL-41F to WS-15, or jump to F-117S?, they will "open up the envelope" in flight test, here in the US, one or two aircraft would be reengined to do the "flight test" and the upgraded aircraft would be designated with a letter upgrade to B or C or whatever? The Eng has convinced me that Chendu has NO desire to go to OVT?? seeing it as costly, and of limited benefit to the aircraft/program, but they are interested in "super-cruise".

In my mind, the computer has taken the performance limits out to maximum projections, and flight test would only be "verifying" those results, hence not to complicated?? not likely to require any major redesign?? unless they ran into problems?

 

[Franklin]

Whether they fly it with the AL-41F to WS-15, or jump to F-117S?, they will "open up the envelope" in flight test, here in the US, one or two aircraft would be reengined to do the "flight test" and the upgraded aircraft would be designated with a letter upgrade to B or C or whatever? The Eng has convinced me that Chendu has NO desire to go to OVT?? seeing it as costly, and of limited benefit to the aircraft/program, but they are interested in "super-cruise".

In my mind, the computer has taken the performance limits out to maximum projections, and flight test would only be "verifying" those results, hence not to complicated?? not likely to require any major redesign?? unless they ran into problems?

That's the point. The plane is in part untested due to the lack of availability of the intended engine or comparable engines and once the new engines becomes available there COULD be new problems they will have to deal with.

 

[taxiya]

It's quite hard to take this photo. Must be from a professional photographer, maybe an insider

From the angle of the photo, we can see that the camera is positioned higher than the aircraft. We have all seen wall-climber's photos, they are all on the same horizontal plane. The high resolution also means a high magnification telephoto lense on a DSLR. It is mostly likely a internal proffessional shot.

 

[delft]

I would guess that the main difference between the aircraft with old and new engine is that a given performance is achieved with or without reheat so with or without a huge increase in fuel consumption. The new engine will not make possible a higher maximum speed or an increase in turn rate.

 

[Blitzo]

There is just one minor problem with the J-20. And that is the plane still doesn't have its intended engine the WS-15. If the J-20 should enter production in the next few years it will be with an uprated WS-10 or AL-31. The plane will be significantly underpowered. I suppose that the plane will pay for it in terms of maneuverability. Since the J-20 never flown on "full power" so to speak it never shown its full maneuvering capabilities if not speed and there for the plane is in part still untested. And when the WS-15 does become available the J-20 might need a new round of testing and perhabs some redesigning of its software if not airframe.

I think it has always been accepted that J-20 may enter service with interim engines first before WS-15 was ready.
It would obviously be preferable if the first batch of J-20s were equipped with its intended engines, but I think even if the first batch of J-20s were powered by interim engines if it enters service in 2017 or 2018, if all the other subsystems work as intended it would still be a massive increase in capability.

 

[Zool]

There is still years of training needed for pilot qualifications and development of tactics in employing a stealth aircraft as well as countering one (Detection/Tracking methods, 5th Gen vs 5th Gen, 4th Gen Versus 5th Gen and SAM vs 5th Gen, combat procedures). So lots to do with the LRIP aircraft regardless of current engine. ACM training for the J-20 will likely change as the engine does, which is to be expected.

 

[Richard Santos]

I think 2017 clearly has a different ejection seat than the 2011.

 

[asif iqbal]

Looks like we may see a quite year in 2016 for the J20 as they production units get underway

It could be a few years before we start seeing more J20 agains

A bit like 2013 the calm before the storm

 

[Deino]

Looks like we may see a quite year in 2016 for the J20 as they production units get underway

It could be a few years before we start seeing more J20 agains

A bit like 2013 the calm before the storm

Why ?? I for myself expect - at least hope - that if the configuration is frozen and this aircraft '2017' was indeed the last pre-serial or EMD-prototype, we will see the beginning of regular low-rate production quite soon to deliver these serial J-20As to the FTTC for further operational testing. As such I really think, that again 4 more aircraft in 2016 is not completely unrealistic ...

The truly most interesting part however begins with the WS-15 testing.

Deino


PS: another wish for 2016 is J-20 in yellow primer similar to the many J-10s we know.

 

[discspinner]

this year would seem to me to be the 'lull year' since they only produced 2 prototypes. why? who knows. starting next year they'll be making 'em from the production line, so why not 8-12 of them? looks like they like the design. on my unscientific note, i expect at least 8 birds next year, then scaled up to until J20B comes online 2020ish, so maybe total of ~100 units in the next 5 years?