J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII

[totenchan]

Would like to point out that the maintenance requirements for single engine aircraft like the J-10 are significantly less than the requirements for full size twinjets

China likely is losing the war if it needs J-10/J-11 to intercept cruise missiles. It's more about winning the war rather than optimizing a losing situation. You ideally don't want US cruise missiles to be within interception range of short-legged J-10s, because that means your J-20s has been pushed backwards into mainland. J-20's brings fight is thousands KM away, and push US assets outwards, outside the range of cruise missiles, obviating need for cost-effective interception to begin with. It's like a solution looking for a problem - if you already push US out of cruise missiles range, why do you need J-10/J-11 intercepting cruise missiles. (J-16 better suited anyways)

Intercepting cruise missiles with cheaper aircraft with larger payloads due to not requiring internal bays is one of the many reasons the US is still buying F-15EX. Modern cruise missiles already have ranges measured in the thousands of km, and they can be launched from submarines or other platforms that J-20s will not be able to "push outwards". The idea that the J-20 or any aircraft is able to put up some imaginary non-porous net that completely prevents aircraft from launching munitions that would need interception is ridiculous.

 

[by78]

A few nice images for the weekend.

 

[by78]

Some grainy sightings from the past few weeks/months.

 

[by78]

(Continued from above...)

 

[Alfa_Particle]

A few interesting images:

J-20 with a red radome cover. Not sure if it indicates anything of significance as we've seen it on J-20s in primers before, but it's still fairly interesting.


May be the clearest photo of the WS-15 yet. I'm fairly sure it's not WS-10Cs because:
- WS-10Cs have a fairly obvious silver 'collar' between the ceramic-coated nozzle feathers and the fuselage itself, but it's not visible here.
- The turkey (nozzle) feathers/outer flaps seem to be longer than WS-10Cs
- Related to the above point, the nozzles seem to have a smaller divergent section than the WS-10Cs and non double-layered. I'm aware that the WS-10Cs' nozzle have a wider divergent section because the nozzles are double layered , making outer flaps more of a 'sheath' for the actual divergent section underneath. But the WS-15's nozzle seems to be single-layered, therefore they'll have to be longer to be consistent with maintaining high pressure ratio needed for supercruise.


A photo of a 205X prototype. Number is unfortunately blurred.


Seems to be a double seater? I'm not sure though.

 

[Deino]

So they are teasing us again ...?

However I would be more interested in this one and its serial number!

 

[sunnymaxi]

May be the clearest photo of the WS-15 yet. I'm fairly sure it's not WS-10Cs because:
- WS-10Cs have a fairly obvious silver 'collar' between the ceramic-coated nozzle feathers and the fuselage itself, but it's not visible here.
- The turkey (nozzle) feathers/outer flaps seem to be longer than WS-10Cs
- Related to the above point, the nozzles seem to have a smaller divergent section than the WS-10Cs and non double-layered. I'm aware that the WS-10Cs' nozzle have a wider divergent section because the nozzles are double layered , making outer flaps more of a 'sheath' for the actual divergent section underneath. But the WS-15's nozzle seems to be single-layered, therefore they'll have to be longer to be consistent with maintaining high pressure ratio needed for supercruise.

yeah. this is first time we have seen the clear view of WS-15 engines ... indeed interesting

 

[Deino]

A few interesting images:
View attachment 127775
...

Wow ... and maybe another surprise!

If I'm not mistaken, then this J-20 could bear the serial number 66?64 or 66?54 which would fit to either the 55th or 54th Air Brigade.

The 55th AB at Jining is rumoured since some time to become a J-20 unit. The 54th AB would be new!

 

[siegecrossbow]

A few interesting images:
View attachment 127775
J-20 with a red radome cover. Not sure if it indicates anything of significance as we've seen it on J-20s in primers before, but it's still fairly interesting.

View attachment 127776
May be the clearest photo of the WS-15 yet. I'm fairly sure it's not WS-10Cs because:
- WS-10Cs have a fairly obvious silver 'collar' between the ceramic-coated nozzle feathers and the fuselage itself, but it's not visible here.
- The turkey (nozzle) feathers/outer flaps seem to be longer than WS-10Cs
- Related to the above point, the nozzles seem to have a smaller divergent section than the WS-10Cs and non double-layered. I'm aware that the WS-10Cs' nozzle have a wider divergent section because the nozzles are double layered , making outer flaps more of a 'sheath' for the actual divergent section underneath. But the WS-15's nozzle seems to be single-layered, therefore they'll have to be longer to be consistent with maintaining high pressure ratio needed for supercruise.

View attachment 127777
A photo of a 205X prototype. Number is unfortunately blurred.

View attachment 127778
Seems to be a double seater? I'm not sure though.

It is not a red radome cover. It is a red cloth that they draped over the radome.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

It is not a red radome cover. It is a red cloth that they draped over the radome

...that's what I meant. A radome cover. I know the radome itself isn't red.