J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread V

[Blitzo]

Has this article posted before ? SOC take on the new shape of J 20 from Jane
Second radar cross-section test range identified in China
Sean O'Connor, Indianapolis - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
24 May 2016

The J-20 full-scale RCS test article present at the Dingxin RCS test complex appears to differ from current J-20 prototypes. Source: CNES 2016, Distribution Airbus DS / 2016 IHS
Key Points

• Airbus Defence and Space imagery captured in 2016 shows a new radar cross-section test range in China
• A J-20 full-scale test article is present at the new test range, with apparent design changes suggesting either a new powerplant installation or a new aircraft variant under evaluation

IHS Jane's recently identified a radar cross-section (RCS) test complex in China. Airbus Defence and Space imagery captured on 24 April shows a recently completed test range northeast of Dingxin Airbase (AB) - the second new test site to be identified in the East Asian nation. The first one is located southwest of Beijing near Gaobeidian. A third possible site, predating the new complexes, is situated near Luoyang.

The location near Dingxin AB is well suited for a signature evaluation complex, with flat terrain and a lack of man-made or natural obstructions near the facility. Additionally, the configuration of the J-20 full-scale RCS test article present suggests design changes may be forthcoming to China's fifth-generation stealth fighter.

Along with the Gaobeidian RCS complex, the Dingxin RCS complex illustrates China's increasing attention to low-RCS aircraft design. The Dingxin RCS complex was constructed after the Gaobeidian site, which was built in the 2009 timeframe - perhaps in an effort to establish an RCS test range in a more secure location.

Yes, it was posted in the Breaking News and pics thread.

 

[Air Force Brat]

Yes, it was posted in the Breaking News and pics thread.

So what does that all mean??? nuthin??? that's my guess, the J-20 is now an LRIP bird, it is on a temporary hiatus, and we really do NOT know why, new batch?? is there a 2103, and 2102 is a static test bird???? maybe???? but I can tell you this with a great deal of confidence, while I never say never???( well, sometimes I do), I'm gonna give a new aircraft configuration of the J-20 a Never, Never status, ain't gonna happen, this bird is set, it works good, it flys good! It is what it is, and it will be a fine aircraft when it gets into regular production status!

NOW, lots of things in China are on "drawdown", lots of ambitious projects, but lots of cashola propping this stuff up. Remember when I stated, "I can't wait for China to have to maintain an aircraft carrier, and hopefully a gross of them just like ours?" and just wait till all these little islands start sucking cash, they already are, but everything you need on the island, you have to haul out there??? everything???

So lots of big money projects, lots of China's customers, former customers are going broke, and China playing this little island hoping game, ain't gone make the neighbors happy. So, we are gonna keep building J-20s, and I am anxious to see that gun??? or whatever, but this bird is really doing okay, all this speculation may be about a nex-gen bird for the future.

 

[Hyperwarp]

So what does that all mean??? nuthin??? that's my guess, the J-20 is now an LRIP bird, it is on a temporary hiatus, and we really do NOT know why, new batch?? is there a 2103, and 2102 is a static test bird???? maybe???? but I can tell you this with a great deal of confidence, while I never say never???( well, sometimes I do), I'm gonna give a new aircraft configuration of the J-20 a Never, Never status, ain't gonna happen, this bird is set, it works good, it flys good! It is what it is, and it will be a fine aircraft when it gets into regular production status!

NOW, lots of things in China are on "drawdown", lots of ambitious projects, but lots of cashola propping this stuff up. Remember when I stated, "I can't wait for China to have to maintain an aircraft carrier, and hopefully a gross of them just like ours?" and just wait till all these little islands start sucking cash, they already are, but everything you need on the island, you have to haul out there??? everything???

So lots of big money projects, lots of China's customers, former customers are going broke, and China playing this little island hoping game, ain't gone make the neighbors happy. So, we are gonna keep building J-20s, and I am anxious to see that gun??? or whatever, but this bird is really doing okay, all this speculation may be about a nex-gen bird for the future.

From the image it looks like a single engined version. But, Sean O'Connor (SoC) commented at CDF that the dimensions of this RCS model was almost the same as the J-20 length and width wise. If it were a single engine version in J-10, J-11 type mix I'd expect this RCS model to be smaller but that doesn't appear to be the case. SoC said the actual image is larger than the one we have access to online.

This is bizarre. Maybe this was an early RCS model? Maybe there is some serious flaw with the current J-20 design? But I do not believe it has anything to do with espionage. This is not like F-117. J-20 has been publicly visible from day 1.

 

[dingyibvs]

Why all the talk about single engine? It's Impossible. China has no engine that can singly power a plane that size, and that pic is too blurry to even lean one way or another. So let's drop that nonsensical suggestion.

To me, with the increased wing area, closer coupled canards, and shortened tail, this is clearly a variant designed for carrier ops. I'm shocked that on a board full of naval specialists that this isn't ALL we're talking about, let alone having no discussion whatsoever.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

Yes, it was posted in the Breaking News and pics thread.

Thanks

 

[latenlazy]

Why all the talk about single engine? It's Impossible. China has no engine that can singly power a plane that size, and that pic is too blurry to even lean one way or another. So let's drop that nonsensical suggestion.

To me, with the increased wing area, closer coupled canards, and shortened tail, this is clearly a variant designed for carrier ops. I'm shocked that on a board full of naval specialists that this isn't ALL we're talking about, let alone having no discussion whatsoever.

A higher wing sweep seems inconsistent with a naval design though. I'm also not certain that coupling distance has changed. Another possibility that might make more sense if there's a wing sweep change, though I think a rather unlikely one, is that there will be a J-20B variant meant for the WS-15 which will have drastic aerodynamic revisions, and that the current J-20 design was always optimized for the AL-31s. That would leave the current J-20 a holdover bastard design however, assuming that one variant couldn't be converted to the other. A third possible option might be that this is in fact not a J-20 but perhaps some kind of interim 6th generation design. Anyways, it would be nice if we could get a better picture...or at least a bigger one...

 

[delft]

It might well be some generic aircraft shape to test the new RCS measuring machinery. Why should it represent an existing or prospective aircraft?

 

[latenlazy]

It might well be some generic aircraft shape to test the new RCS measuring machinery. Why should it represent an existing or prospective aircraft?

Because SOC at China Defence says it shares the same length and width as the J-20. Tbh, if I had to put my money on one possibility, it would be that it's just a random, perhaps experimental, mockup, not a specific design intended for service. .

 

[Quickie]

Because SOC at China Defence says it shares the same length and width as the J-20. Tbh, if I had to put my money on one possibility, it would be that it's just a random, perhaps experimental, mockup, not a specific design intended for service. .

If the size is about the same as J-20, the overall shape of the wing and canard and their placement is closer to the J-10 than the J-20.

 

[Deino]

I have three theories:

1. a random RCS-experiment on a design loosely resembling the J-20

2. indeed a modified J-20 maybe related to the final engine WS-15.

3. what if this is a RCS model hidden under a tarpaulin and assisted by certain structures to make it look different ?

Deino