J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VI

[Blitzo]

Well the gun system may be a structural mod as we have never seen a clear show of where it is supposed to be.

Add in a DIRCM.

I believe it was yankeesama who said that current J-20s have a position reserved for a gun. On this aircraft the only reasonable locations would be on the shoulders, which on the aircraft as we see looks quite sensible. If space has indeed been reserved there, the structural modifications should be rather minor.

 

[Air Force Brat]

On the subject of Zhuhai, here's some very nice, high quality footage. Check out 4:25 in slow motion, what a sight:

I think I do see some coupling between the trailing edge of the canard and the main wing during the second burst.

Extremely awesome video, where we actually do see the "head man" turn the J-20 "LOOSE" for the very first time in public, its quite an airplane, and you are correct, most of the vortices stem from the leading edge of the LERX, amazing vortices, if you observe your video at 3:41 you'll see why the pilots are so excited about the J-20, its a "baby doll"!

 

[Air Force Brat]

The Ws15 size is known. No major changes required structurally....
See other part in green. Can't say much more.

That's right, the J-20 was designed around the WS-15, that's why the inlets of the nacelle's were reduced and reshaped to optimize output of the AL-31FN's, and it will be a simple task to "open them up" again, watching this new Zhuhai tape should remind us all what a fantastic airplane the J-20 really is...

On the subject of Zhuhai, here's some very nice, high quality footage. Check out 4:25 in slow motion, what a sight:

I think I do see some coupling between the trailing edge of the canard and the main wing during the second burst.

Yes, its there, as amazing as high G demo's are in revealing "aero's", you don't get a micro picture of all the "active" features, I would love to see the J-20's "blue smoke" session, but as the canard contributes to overall lift, there is no doubt a very strong vortex off of each outboard trailing edge... Dr. Song also alluded to complexity of the FCS, the canards are no doubt "more active" in the low speed regime, and likely damped out as speed increases

 

[Air Force Brat]

I believe it was yankeesama who said that current J-20s have a position reserved for a gun. On this aircraft the only reasonable locations would be on the shoulders, which on the aircraft as we see looks quite sensible. If space has indeed been reserved there, the structural modifications should be rather minor.

and that's very possible, just as the J-20 has been designed around the cases of the WS-15's, if there is to be a gun, they have no doubt made provisions for that structurally, although it would still be a major modification, installing the gun, magazine, and doors is all a very intricate affair.

 

[Inst]

I've been thinking about something lately: since the WS-15 is not looking like it's going to enter service before the mid 2020's, how about redesigning/refining the J-20 air-frame in the meantime? It could always use a few touches - maybe revisit the necessity for ventral strakes given stronger engines, vectored thrust, more advanced flight control, etc.

J-20 v2; how feasible would that be?

IMO, you could also move the tailfins out. The J-20 has an almost unique X-shaped canard configuration, something shared only by the Rafale. This potentially allows the J-20 to use its canards for yaw control; since they're at a different angle from the wings. Reinforcing or enlarging the canards would basically change the planeform stealth of the J-20 to be equivalent to that of the F-22 at the very least, and using more modern meta-material stealth could make the J-20 at least a negative 50 dBsm fighter.

As shown on the X-36, tailfinless configurations have maneuverability and drag advantages over conventional aircraft with fins. Roughly speaking, you'd have roughly a 5th gen aircraft with characteristics of 6th gens.

 

[Air Force Brat]

I've been thinking about something lately: since the WS-15 is not looking like it's going to enter service before the mid 2020's, how about redesigning/refining the J-20 air-frame in the meantime? It could always use a few touches - maybe revisit the necessity for ventral strakes given stronger engines, vectored thrust, more advanced flight control, etc.

J-20 v2; how feasible would that be?

Its feasible, but not at all likely! IMHO, the J-20 already received a major tweak, and is in fact V2, to tweak it again doesn't really make any sense, it flies great, looks great, will carry anything they wish to carry, and has great range??? what's broke?? nothing!

 

[Air Force Brat]

IMO, you could also move the tailfins out. The J-20 has an almost unique X-shaped canard configuration, something shared only by the Rafale. This potentially allows the J-20 to use its canards for yaw control; since they're at a different angle from the wings. Reinforcing or enlarging the canards would basically change the planeform stealth of the J-20 to be equivalent to that of the F-22 at the very least, and using more modern meta-material stealth could make the J-20 at least a negative 50 dBsm fighter.

As shown on the X-36, tailfinless configurations have maneuverability and drag advantages over conventional aircraft with fins. Roughly speaking, you'd have roughly a 5th gen aircraft with characteristics of 6th gens.

 

[taxiya]

...

Why the canard dihedral, though? Why not have it co-planar with the wing?

For the canard to work to its purpose, it has to be on different plane than the wing on the same side. Conventional aircraft does that, Rafale, Eurofighter and JAS-39. However that will increase RCS.

J-20's solution is very smart, by having different angle, the canard does the same job as on different plane. The trick is that, the canard is coplanar with the main wing on the other side of the fuselage, this arrangement reduces the RCS to the same level as if they are coplanar to the same side main wing as you suggested.

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

The trick is that, the canard is coplanar with the main wing on the other side of the fuselage, this arrangement reduces the RCS to the same level as if they are coplanar to the same side main wing as you suggested.

Holy f*ck, I just saw that! At first I was like, "What is this guy talking about?" Then I stared at the picture and saw it. Damn, that is clever - I've been looking at pictures of this plane for years and I never noticed that detail.

 

[taxiya]

IMO, you could also move the tailfins out. The J-20 has an almost unique X-shaped canard configuration, something shared only by the Rafale. This potentially allows the J-20 to use its canards for yaw control; since they're at a different angle from the wings. Reinforcing or enlarging the canards would basically change the planeform stealth of the J-20 to be equivalent to that of the F-22 at the very least, and using more modern meta-material stealth could make the J-20 at least a negative 50 dBsm fighter.

As shown on the X-36, tailfinless configurations have maneuverability and drag advantages over conventional aircraft with fins. Roughly speaking, you'd have roughly a 5th gen aircraft with characteristics of 6th gens.

That amount of change is a totally new aircraft, not an upgrade.