How is WS15 technology compared to F119 or F135? Is it on par with F119 or F135?
How is WS15 technology compared to F119 or F135? Is it on par with F119 or F135?
China has augmented its operational units with additional numbers of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-16 multirole and Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 stealth fighter aircraft.
Janes assesses that China may have inducted 15 new SAC J-16s and 11 CAC J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighters into service since January 2023. These inductions support ongoing efforts by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to replace its older aircraft.
With these additions, the PLAAF potentially has 233 J-16s in service (not counting seven specialist J-16D electronic warfare (EW) aircraft) and as many as 127 J-20As, according to Janes Satellite Imagery and Analysis (JSIA).
The data suggest that J-20As are augmenting PLAAF air brigades equipped with CAC J-10 Meng Long single-engine fighters and J-16s. In some cases, such as with the 56th Air Brigade, J-20As could be replacing J-10B and J-10AS aircraft operational within that unit.
Inductions of J-16s have been ongoing. At least three PLAAF air brigades are trading their ‘legacy' aircraft for J-16s from 2022. From May 2023 a fourth air brigade also started to receive J-16s.
According to Chinese state-owned media, this unit is within the PLA's Eastern Theater Command (ETC). Assessments by JSIA indicate that this is likely the 95th Air Brigade.
The unit is based at Lianyungang-Baitabu in the northeastern part of China's Jiangsu province. China Central Television (CCTV) also reported that the new unit conducted familiarisation and training sorties from northeastern Jiangsu.
This image of the author should explain plenty for why Jane's got the numbers so wrong:I'm posting this article because it's a good opportunity to talk about fleet count again.
Obviously, we all know that J-20s have exceeded F-22 numbers by now and most of us estimate it should be in excess of 200 with recent indicators from Yankee and co, so the 127 J-20 count is frankly ridiculous.
But does anyone have any more specific estimates? As of present, my own estimate is anywhere between 200-240 airframes produced, with more expected by the year's end, given we expect they should approach 100 airframes per year in production rate by the end of this year.
@Deino
Interested in your thoughts on what you think the J-20 count is, and also interested in if you have any knowledge for how the Jane's J-20 count can be so wrong lol
This image of the author should explain plenty for why Jane's got the numbers so wrong:
View attachment 115644
This might be the most sacred hand drill in all of China.A pneumatic drill on display at a museum. It was used to drill the first rivet holes for the first J-20 airframe.
This might be the most sacred hand drill in all of China.
Did their Janes Satellite Imagery and Analysis (JSIA) include J-20s that are parked underneath aircraft hangars into their total count?I'm posting this article because it's a good opportunity to talk about fleet count again.
Obviously, we all know that J-20s have exceeded F-22 numbers by now and most of us estimate it should be in excess of 200 with recent indicators from Yankee and co, so the 127 J-20 count is frankly ridiculous.
But does anyone have any more specific estimates? As of present, my own estimate is anywhere between 200-240 airframes produced, with more expected by the year's end, given we expect they should approach 100 airframes per year in production rate by the end of this year.
@Deino
Interested in your thoughts on what you think the J-20 count is, and also interested in if you have any knowledge for how the Jane's J-20 count can be so wrong lol
Should 18.5 tons be a reasonable estimate for WS-15's max thrust? Cuz that's a pretty widely quoted figure right now.
though we should have wait for some official figure.IMO
T/W: 10+
BPR: 0.25~0.3
Dry: 10.5~11.5t
Wet: 16t
I wonder why the date is 2012.10.10A pneumatic drill on display at a museum. It was used to drill the first rivet holes for the first J-20 airframe.