No, they're the approximate flyaway costs for each airframe
Development costs are better listed alongside, otherwise it gets really confusing
J-20 5th Generation Fighter VII
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No, they're the approximate flyaway costs for each airframe
Development costs are better listed alongside, otherwise it gets really confusing
Good point!
I would be more cautious.
We do not know if Dark Sword is definitively being developed. There is a possibility it is, but based on the current basis of rumours and evidence, I think the weighting is not definitive, say, in the same way that H-20 is confirmed, or the way in which J-XY was confirmed in the last few years.
Furthermore, what you wrote in your previous post was "
IMO -- this is too much of an overreach.
The fan made CGIs are most certainly not a visual indicator.
What we do have, are rumours and allusions that J-20 is capable of commanding UAVs of some sort, and that is also within reasonable estimates as well given the way all nations are pursuing MUMT.
But we do not know what kind of UAVs that J-20s may be flying with.
To sum up:
1. We have some indicators that existing single seat J-20 is being developed with some capability to operate with, or command, some type of UAVs.
2. There are some rumours that Dark Sword may be an actively being developed project, but the weighting of evidence does not make it yet "confirmed".
IMO, I would argue -- at present we do not have visual hints of any value that J-20 has (or will) fly with or command Dark Sword UCAVs. That is simply on the basis of available evidence.
If we want to extrapolate and project out a bit, then I do agree that J-20 will certainly fly with and command UCAVs of some type or types (which may or may not include Dark Sword in its roster, if the Dark Sword project emerges). It is also possible that J-20 may have already begun to be tested with some high end UAVs/UCAVs as well.
The future of MUMT means that manned fighters will likely be intended to be capable of operating alongside and command multiple different types of high end UAVs and UCAVs.
However, it is much too far for us to suggest that we have any visual hints of J-20 and Dark Sword flying or operating together. Those CGIs definitely do not count.
You can keep the internal structure and just put a panel over where you normally have to put in mechanisms for the door.
Just so we have something to compare with -- this is why I'm saying everyone should perhaps hold their horses a bit to wait for a higher quality image.
As we can see, when an aircraft is in yellow primer and does not have the weapons bay edge treatment, you require a rather good quality image to identify the seam lines.
The images we have so far of the J-20S are not good enough to rule in or rule out the presence of side bays IMO.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
The idea of loyal wingman paired with J 20 is not so crazy after all according to PLAAF pilot
Published: 12:00pm, 20 Nov, 2021
A PLA pilot has speculated on Chinese state media about a possible pairing of the J-20 stealth fighter with drones to improve the aircraft’s surveillance and warfare abilities. Photo: AP
China has again hinted at a potential pairing of its most advanced aircraft, the , with in a tandem strategy that would expand Beijing’s combat capabilities, according to state media.
“The future is a big era for drone development. Important questions are: what role should drones play in future battlefields, how to team up manned and unmanned vehicles, and what tactical goal can be achieved,” Chinese air force pilot Liu Qihong was quoted as saying about the J-20 in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.
“If teamed with four drones during a mission, the manned vehicle can have a wider surveillance area and clearer sense of danger. What’s more, drones can overcome long endurance periods, high temperature and a lot of noise, which might become unbearable for human pilots.”
The CCTV report was shown as the air force marked its on November 11.
The remarks on teaming the J-20 – an advanced fifth-generation fighter with stealth and supersonic cruise capabilities, also known as “Mighty Dragon” – with drones came weeks after the plane was shown at the latest together with a drone, the GJ-11 “Sharp Sword”, a stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
At that time Chinese authorities had not revealed plans to pair advanced fighter jets with drones, a field in which China’s technology leads, for military purposes. However, the positioning of the two aircraft prompted speculation online that the Chinese air force would marry manned and unmanned vehicles for future training exercises.
China is not the only country actively researching and practising manned-unmanned teaming, known as MUM-T.
EVERY SATU
China’s military looks to J-20 jet-drone match-up for combat edge
- PLA pilot says unmanned aerial vehicles can do what humans cannot – endure extremes for long periods
- US military tandem test hints at future warfare with mother ships keeping out of enemy range while drones fly into danger for intelligence and combat missions
Published: 12:00pm, 20 Nov, 2021
A PLA pilot has speculated on Chinese state media about a possible pairing of the J-20 stealth fighter with drones to improve the aircraft’s surveillance and warfare abilities. Photo: AP
China has again hinted at a potential pairing of its most advanced aircraft, the , with in a tandem strategy that would expand Beijing’s combat capabilities, according to state media.
“The future is a big era for drone development. Important questions are: what role should drones play in future battlefields, how to team up manned and unmanned vehicles, and what tactical goal can be achieved,” Chinese air force pilot Liu Qihong was quoted as saying about the J-20 in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.
“If teamed with four drones during a mission, the manned vehicle can have a wider surveillance area and clearer sense of danger. What’s more, drones can overcome long endurance periods, high temperature and a lot of noise, which might become unbearable for human pilots.”
The CCTV report was shown as the air force marked its on November 11.
The remarks on teaming the J-20 – an advanced fifth-generation fighter with stealth and supersonic cruise capabilities, also known as “Mighty Dragon” – with drones came weeks after the plane was shown at the latest together with a drone, the GJ-11 “Sharp Sword”, a stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
At that time Chinese authorities had not revealed plans to pair advanced fighter jets with drones, a field in which China’s technology leads, for military purposes. However, the positioning of the two aircraft prompted speculation online that the Chinese air force would marry manned and unmanned vehicles for future training exercises.
China is not the only country actively researching and practising manned-unmanned teaming, known as MUM-T.
EVERY SATU
I
I feel like every time we identify new planes we should do a count guesstimate
… would be interesting to get an image from Wuhu taken at the same time/date. At least I thought they already returned … otherwise it could indeed be a hint that the 85th AB is the PLAAF‘s third unit to fly J-20s.
At least here at Wuhu I cannot see them.
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