I doubt J-20 would be used that way
That's what
what exactly do you mean by "should be able" here?
I am saying.
J20 is still being felt out by the PLA PLA but from a technology stand point it is more than just the air to air machine.
Take those missile bays
Everyone sees 4 long range air to air missiles. That's fine. But I also see at least 2 air to ground missiles as an option. Or how about antiship misiles.
Modern fighters especially fifth gens are expensive investments. As such the prefrpreference is to have multi role capabilities. IE get more mission out of a platform
J20 has a EOTS style sensor, It has 2 missile bays of a good size and 2 short range air to air bays.
Now from a mission stand point the first mission aim is obvious air superiority.
Okay fine but if you have that then what? Do you send them back to base?
No of course not. If they are already operating then the next step is to start shifting missions. Less air to air more air to ground.
Now someone I am sure will say "but they have fourth gens with superior load outs" and they do.
And you can hang a bigger weapon off the wing of a J10 or J11 then in the bay of a J20. Same is true for any other fifth gen. But if you are flying in territory where you are still not quite in control, that big weapon is a big radar return which means a big target.
Where if you have the low observable you may not have that big bomb but you can get closer and in many cases you don't actually need that bigger bomb to do the job.
@Jura you point to that article which is fine, but as any one should be able to say the stealth is a bit over kill in that yet both American fifth gens have cut there teeth there, why? Not to just prove a point but to prove it.
Basically, any chinese j-11 with low-drag payload(say, in a tunnel or under nacelles) can dash just as good.
Blah blah blah... you miss the point and so did the Russians in a recent news article.
First super cruise is more fuel effective than going full burner because of the limited internal fuel which would only be solved by sacrificing performance for mass and in turn demanding something more like a flying wing bomber then a fighter which J20 and F22 are primarily.
Your second claim I am not even going to grace with a response.
Third so two are every fighter and oh yeah these new AESA are jammers in their own right. And that also plays again vs what we are seeing here.
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So again I say from a practical standpoint the 4 main bay missiles are just the start of what J20 has as potential future weapons loadouts.
If she does indeed have a "superior range" it would I think even more allow it to perform a secondary mission set as needed. Particularly as the PRC seems to be taking there time with there follow on low observable programs (Bomber, FC31 and more) indicating a preference to getting J20 more mature before pulling the trigger again.
