J-20 5th Generation Fighter VII

Deino said:

Just to put both so far "best" images in a slightly larger version together in one post:
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And I still don't want to accept this one being called J-20A!

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I must say, if this is called J-20A and the twin seater is called J-20B, that actually makes a bit of sense for me.

It would imply that J-20A with WS-15s is the meant to be the "intended" version, and more importantly that J-20B for the twin seater means that it is more than just a "twin seater variant" but rather a dedicated variant with enhanced battle management/control capabilities.

Blitzo said:

I must say, if this is called J-20A and the twin seater is called J-20B, that actually makes a bit of sense for me.

It would imply that J-20A with WS-15s is the meant to be the "intended" version, and more importantly that J-20B for the twin seater means that it is more than just a "twin seater variant" but rather a dedicated variant with enhanced battle management/control capabilities.

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Wasn't there a J-10 without the "A" that was built in very small numbers prior to settling on J-10A? That's a good analogy and makes much more sense now.

Temstar said:

Wasn't there a J-10 without the "A" that was built in very small numbers prior to settling on J-10A? That's a good analogy and makes much more sense now.

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Yes exactly, although to be fair under the previous assumption the idea was that perhaps the initial 00 batch of J-20 was "J-20" and the subsequent batches are "J-20A".
Previously, some have also suggested J-20 might be the Al-31 powered version and J-20A might be the WS-10 powered version, which also could make sense.

But the idea of J-20A being powered by WS-15s as the intended version also makes sense, so either way it kinda works lol

Blitzo said:

I must say, if this is called J-20A and the twin seater is called J-20B, that actually makes a bit of sense for me.

It would imply that J-20A with WS-15s is the meant to be the "intended" version, and more importantly that J-20B for the twin seater means that it is more than just a "twin seater variant" but rather a dedicated variant with enhanced battle management/control capabilities.

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Well ... alone from the prototype/demonstrators to the serial aircraft are so many changes (more than from J-10 prototype to Batch 01-03 J-10 and the J-10A from Batch 04 (I think it was 04?) to Batch 07), so that IMO no. 2001 & 2002 "should" be J-20, all production aircraft then J-20A and now the B ... but well, I think the PLAAF and CAC have a different meaning. And what do I have to say?

Deino said:

Well ... alone from the prototype/demonstrators to the serial aircraft are so many changes (more than from J-10 prototype to Batch 01-03 J-10 and the J-10A from Batch 04 (I think it was 04?) to Batch 07), so that IMO no. 2001 & 2002 "should" be J-20, all production aircraft then J-20A and now the B ... but well, I think the PLAAF and CAC have a different meaning. And what do I have to say?

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To be honest it's not like we have a lot of consistent precedent to go off, and it all depends on how reasonable it is for the idea of "J-20" to include all of the 2001/2, 201X prototypes and the J-20s powered by Al-31 and WS-10.

To be fair perhaps 2001/2 are not considered "J-20" but as "technology demonstrators" (or something like equivalent of "YF-22"), and thus 201X and the production J-20 with Al-31 and WS-10 are considered "J-20".

From there, it would be reasonable to consider J-20 with WS-15 (and various other modifications that we've seen to the fuselage and nose etc) as "J-20A".

Temstar said:

Wasn't there a J-10 without the "A" that was built in very small numbers prior to settling on J-10A? That's a good analogy and makes much more sense now.

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From my understanding Batch 01-03 was J-10, then - after being refitted with some externally barely visible modifications (externally the new white antenna behind the cockpit was the tell-tale) - from Batch 04 to 07 they were called J-10A. So IMO even if logical maybe, the changes were minor than from the J-20 prototypes 201x to the serial aircraft.

KYli said:

This article is a complete ripoff from this forum or other Chinese military forums. Although, I am surprised that this news got reported so soon.

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As always, the comments following any article on China are very amusing.

Lol just name all the WS-10 versions as J-20 LRIP and this one as J-20

J-20A sounds neither here nor there

And China finally realizes that the back of the J-20 looks too long and gives it a hump, so that it would look more balanced.

I am not an engine expert but is this too good to be true deal?

Quote:

"WS-15, like F119, has a three-stage fan driven by a single-stage low pressure turbine and six-stage high pressure compressor driven by single-stage high pressure turbine.

Core engine flow rate: 30kg/s

Turbine inlet temperature: 1841K

Bypass ratio: about 0.25

Full afterburner thrust: 171.3kN ~ 191.6kN."