J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread V

[Blitzo]

How do you know the previous IRST were mock ups, or the current ones work?

Carefully looking at the EOIRST mount.
Mock ups were the dark grey opaque, solid mounts whereas the working ones are partially translucent covered by a gold tinted faceted cover, with a central opaque part within the faceted cover which is the sensor itself.

That said, the fact that the EOIRST only looks like it is functional doesn't necessarily mean it is, but at the same time I do not think it is an unreasonable assumption.

 

[SinoSoldier]

Huitong is saying that the PLANAF has selected a naval variant of the J-20 over the FC-31.

 

[newguy02]

Huitong is saying that the PLANAF has selected a naval variant of the J-20 over the FC-31.

If this is the case, it looks like the FC-31's only hope left is export.

 

[SinoSoldier]

If this is the case, it looks like the FC-31's only hope left is export.

Or PLAAF.

 

[Air Force Brat]

If this is the case, it looks like the FC-31's only hope left is export.

I hate to say it, but FC-31 is an "Orfink", as I believe I remember the ole Sailor Man saying on the cartoons?? Nobody's gonna save her, unless something momentous comes along? It made a real splash at Zuhai, but we just don't have any idea what stage the development is actually in, probably very early, and its a crying shame as she flew very well.

I hope they make a liar out of me, as I would love to be wrong here?? but the navalized J-20 CS we saw the other day was just drop dead gorgeous??? will that happen, I ain't gonna hold my breath on that either? I'm just not, like the USN sticking with the F-18 till the last dog dies?? when they could be ramping the F-35C up and rolling with a real aeroplane. Fifth gen offers an awful lot of airplane, and a real advantage in what is shaping up to be a very hostile anti-air environment, I would NOT like to be riding in a Four gen on the way to the target, and I would HATE trying to ride out in Four gen??? you gonna wind up DED!

The J-20 is making progress, I'm rather surprised we have not seen 2017, 2018, and 2019 as of yet? but I'm betting that at least 2017 rolls out before the Chinese New Year?

 

[Blitzo]

I wonder what designation a navalized J-20 would get... or maybe a new suffix? J-25 would sound nice.

 

[SinoSoldier]

I wonder what designation a navalized J-20 would get... or maybe a new suffix? J-25 would sound nice.

If the fighter is merely a navalized J-20, then it would be "J-20H"

If it's a new project with the J-20 design as its basis, it would be something else (J-22 most likely).

 

[Blitzo]

If the fighter is merely a navalized J-20, then it would be "J-20H"

If it's a new project with the J-20 design as its basis, it would be something else (J-22 most likely).

I imagine a land based J-20 would be given the H suffix... a carrierborne J-20 may get a new designation entirely.
Why do you think J-22?

 

[SinoSoldier]

I imagine a land based J-20 would be given the H suffix... a carrierborne J-20 may get a new designation entirely.
Why do you think J-22?

I don't think being carrier-borne warrants a new designation altogether. The reason why the J-15 had a different designation was because it is essentially a new design/project.

Speaking of designations, many of the "J-" series have been taken:
- J-17: refers to cancelled Su-34-type aircraft
- J-18: refers to SAC's bid for 5th generation fighter project
- J-19: unknown
- J-20: self-explanatory
- J-21: possibly reserved for the FC-31
- J-22: navalized J-20?

 

[Blitzo]

I don't think being carrier-borne warrants a new designation altogether. The reason why the J-15 had a different designation was because it is essentially a new design/project.

A navalized, carrierborne J-20 would probably be as much of a new design to J-20, as the Su-33 was from the original Su-27.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was given a new designation altogether, myself

Speaking of designations, many of the "J-" series have been taken:
- J-17: refers to cancelled Su-34-type aircraft
- J-18: refers to SAC's bid for 5th generation fighter project
- J-19: unknown
- J-20: self-explanatory
- J-21: possibly reserved for the FC-31
- J-22: navalized J-20?

Unfortunately we don't know whether J-17, J-18, J-19 an J-21 were all reserved for specific aircraft. For instance we don't know if J-21 really is reserved for the FC-31 (it might be given a different designation of J-31 for all we know), and the Sino-Su-34 was also designated J-18. We also don't know if the Air Force even designates their fighters with chronological numbers, and I don't think we have anywhere near enough evidence to suggest it.

I also feel like the Air Force may be coy about avoiding giving a designation for a new aircraft that is too similar to a very currently well known designation for a US fighter.