J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII

[THX 1138]

the Pentagon reports that the PLAAF “is preparing upgrades for the J-20, which may include increasing the number of air-to-air missiles (AAM) the fighter can carry in its low-observable configuration

This is the first I've heard of this. Has there been any other source (besides the Pentagon) that claims the PLAAF is working on a carriage upgrade for the J-20?

Since the J-20 already has the capacity to launch a number of missiles equivalent to the F-22, the carriage upgrade in stealth mode would give the J-20 a distinctive edge over the F-22

That does not sound correct. I thought the F-22 carried 6 missiles in its internal bay, plus 1 missile in each of its lateral bays. The J-20 carries only 4 missiles in its internal bay, plus 1 missile in each of its lateral bays.

 

[gelgoog]

I think they are talking about the rumors of changing the J-20 to be able to carry more than 4 missiles in the bottom internal bay.
As is the J-20 already is more capable than the F-22. It has more modern electronics and longer range missiles.

 

[Nx4eu]

I think they are talking about the rumors of changing the J-20 to be able to carry more than 4 missiles in the bottom internal bay.
As is the J-20 already is more capable than the F-22. It has more modern electronics and longer range missiles.

Instead of changing the bay itself, I think it's more along the lines of modifying the PL-15 with folding fins to allow 6 in the internal bays

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Just to give a sense of how big the J-20 actually is. Here's a 1:1 scale model of the J-20.

Posted by @单手搓核弹 on Weibo.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

I think they are talking about the rumors of changing the J-20 to be able to carry more than 4 missiles in the bottom internal bay.
As is the J-20 already is more capable than the F-22. It has more modern electronics and longer range missiles.

Instead of changing the bay itself, I think it's more along the lines of modifying the PL-15 with folding fins to allow 6 in the internal bays

I.e. something like this:

 

[Stealthflanker]

It's pretty much it. as Internal bay dimension are practically unchangeable once the configuration are frozen. Thus the weapon have to get smaller to make the best use of the available space.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Unlike the raptor, which uses AIM-120C, the fin-size is not the limiting factor for the PL-15. The diameter of the missile is more of an issue. To make the missile more compact they’d need to slim it down a bit.

 

[Atomicfrog]

It's pretty much it. as Internal bay dimension are practically unchangeable once the configuration are frozen. Thus the weapon have to get smaller to make the best use of the available space.

Does the PL-12 have smaller diameter ? If it's the case, mixing the missile load could provide the space, 4 pl-15, 2 pl-12...

 

[by78]

A nice screen capture, with a good view of the HUD projector.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Does the PL-12 have smaller diameter ? If it's the case, mixing the missile load could provide the space, 4 pl-15, 2 pl-12...

One of the reasons why PL-15 has a longer reach is because it has more room for propellant.