Yeah it is true that we don't really know what the radar type is. But what's more likely? J-10C and J-16 both officially confirmed (no more or less believable than USAF F-22 officially claimed to use an AESA) while J-20 does not? We're splitting hairs here but weight speculation is a whole other level of speculation. It is almost certain J-20 uses AESA without official confirmation but it is pure guesswork to believe anyone claiming to know weight specifications. The radar analogy fails and fails so obviously. It is far easier to speculate on radar... there are only a handful of options out there and there are 100% accurate prediction patterns. Weight is a continuum and depends on so many things that none of us here or any journalist have even a clue about. For starters, we're not aeronautical engineers so don't even understand the basic concepts that factor into weight.
J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VI
- Thread starter siegecrossbow
- Start date
- Status
Brumby
Major
Please provide your source so that I can understand the meaning of decently sourced as opposed to blind guessing.
Given this is PLA watching and given the way you've phrased your question, I think it's probably worth it to clarify what you consider to be a "source".
Nah, that's not even important to me. Sure some sources are going to be better than others. Any person can just list the source (or sources) that they personally deem best and most credible.
for J-20 (and also J-10C and J-16) tbh I can't remember the original source in terms of who said it had an AESA first.
But even back when J-20 was first rumoured as J-XX one of the subsystems listed for it was an AESA radar. In the decade since the late 2000s and seeing J-20 emerge and enter tests and enter service that hasn't really changed and the respected commentators have referred to it as having an AESA as a matter of fact.
There are guesses, and then there are guesses.
The way that PLA watching works is that there are individuals on the Chinese boards who have demonstrated credibility and insider information in the past and who are considered to have understanding of information within the PLA and/or PRC defence industry that the rest of us -- including foreign journalists -- do not.
It is not merely enough to ignore posting the info from AWS for example, but rather it is important to signal to everyone and to perhaps newcomers to the forum not familiar with PLA watching, why those numbers from AWS are not a reflection of any sort of insider information from AWS as others might mistakenly interpret them.
So... are there any links to videos where any pilots/officials mention the radar? Or any transcripts of such recordings? Are there any news (in video or written form) coming from state tv stating anything about radar? Are there any research papers that explicitly mention J-20 or J-16 and AESA research?
I know most people are going to interpret my questions as "Ah he's a non-believer". But that's not what all this is about. It's about trying to get THE best sources on a topic possible. If the best source is an indication based on the fact AESA was marketed for something as lowly as export JF-17, then so be it. But if there's any chance there's a better, more direct indication or a source, that'd really be great.
I know most people are going to interpret my questions as "Ah he's a non-believer". But that's not what all this is about. It's about trying to get THE best sources on a topic possible. If the best source is an indication based on the fact AESA was marketed for something as lowly as export JF-17, then so be it. But if there's any chance there's a better, more direct indication or a source, that'd really be great.
People bookmark and remember sources that state something that is surprising or previously unknown. A source saying the J-20 has an AESA radar is forgettable and about as noteworthy as a source saying water is wet. Who would bother bookmarking something like that?
Well we've also never had any more sources giving details on Chinese ASAT. Or any sources giving details about Type 055's radar. Or any sources detailing China's Hydrogen bombs. This is treading into semantics territory and potential flaming. Let's just be reasonable and get real. AESA on J-20 is almost a certainty as far as we can tell about such things. J-20's weight on the other hand is too confidential a detail to disclose. Its exact weight under specific conditions has not been publicly been disclosed or mentioned. Every number on the internet is likely speculation or made up... as per usual for the internet. How can the point be made about weight by claiming that every detail is unconfirmed and technically uncertain. One group will begin using this line of thinking to convince themselves and others that China has absolutely faked everything. The space walks and moon missions were done in underwater movie sets! This sort of discussion benefits nobody and at best is intellectual masturbation.
To answer Totoro's question. There isn't any. Now what?? What does this have to do with weight? Also what is the point of bringing up the fact that everything is uncertain and unproven? Is the Earth spherical to a flat Earth believer since they haven't been taken up to space without being unconscious at any point?
To answer Totoro's question. There isn't any. Now what?? What does this have to do with weight? Also what is the point of bringing up the fact that everything is uncertain and unproven? Is the Earth spherical to a flat Earth believer since they haven't been taken up to space without being unconscious at any point?
Last edited:
Brumby
Major
That was my point. Everybody is guessing.
- Status