So, you guys are now claiming J-20 is using a "different stealth" than F-22 or PAK FA??
OH! REALLY? Might I ask what kind of "stealth"? Plasma stealth?
You're grasping at straws. Slat gap visibility has everything to do with angle, lighting, distance, and position of slats in a picture. There are pictures where the F-22's slat gaps are obvious, and there are pictures where the J-20s aren't. Your argument about the number of slat gaps is also faulty. The YF-23 had 4 slat gaps on its leading edge, but many considered it to be a stealthier design than the YF-22. Your response to this would probably be, "well the YF-23 has other features that made it stealthier", but that would destroy your cherry picking focus on small details as opposed to the whole design which is what ultimately matters for low observability.
Your main argument was that discontinuities were bad. Regardless of whether they're recessed or not the tail boom is a discontinuity on the surface, more so hiding behind the discontinuities following the contours of the engines, aka "uneven surfaces!". Do these discontinuities matter? My opinion is no, because they're shaped in a way that's probably designed to minimize radar reflection, just like they are on the J-20. My point? Quellish makes a claim that there are bumps on the surface of the J-20 that are detectable by high band radars, but so far he hasn't pointed out anything unique that doesn't exist on other stealth planes, so either all these stealth planes are flagrant offenders, or they're all doing something right that goes beyond the basic "loose screw big reflection" argument.
No, I can't solve ufimtsev's equestion, And I certainly don't claim to understand it.
But I do notice the design features of stealth aircrafts - edge alignment when I see one.
So, you guys are now claiming J-20 is using a "different stealth" than F-22 or PAK FA??
OH! REALLY? Might I ask what kind of "stealth"? Plasma stealth?
Is that what you guys are suggesting? So CAC can abandon the stealth design principles and design as sloppy as they can?
1) You're treating edge alignment as an end all be all, when in fact it is only one of many ways to achieve radar return reduction. 2) Focusing on edge alignment only considers 2D radar reflection, when radar reflection is a 3D phenomena. 3) Even if we only consider it from the perspective of 2D reflections, unless you're an expert on radar reduction you are not an authority on what combination of shapes will work to reduce radar reflections.Let's look at the edge alignment again.
F-22
PAK FA
If you look at the above two, you can see, they follow very specific design idea, they are trying to align as many edges as possible.
J-20
In J-20's case, there are only 4 edges that's aligned in same direction really. The rest are all different angles.
look = performance right?
So these are all fully working combatant then?
There is the "look", and there is the "substance".
Unfortunately, China is the former for far too long. Back in Boxer Rebellion those "boxers" believe they can stop BULLETS and CANON with their body. LMAO.
Let's put it this way, for far too long, China's science is more mystical then grounded in reality and science (I am talking about pre-1900). Chinese Kungfu? Its more about the "form" than about actual application.
Anyway. Back to J-20.
So, you are saying F-22 is untested in combat so its not believable it has any combat effectiveness?!
I am sorry to burst your bubble, but America is the first to operate stealth fighter and bomber for DECADES (That's 25-30 years). It has more than proven itself in every type of scenario, and F-22 is NOT the first stealth aircraft design by America.
On the other hand, J-20 is the FIRST stealth aircraft design by China. It is the third combat aircraft completely design by China right?? (Let's not count the Soviet clones) So, pardon my skepticism, but China practically has no indigenous aircraft design experience compare to America.
And WS-15 is also a big question mark too - will China be able to finish the design or is it going to languish in development hell like the Indian Kaveri ?? And then beg Russia for AF-31/41...? Its all a big question mark.
Well, I certainly can't say what stealth material J-20 has, but like I say before, having favorable view without grounded in realism is dangerous. Believing J-20 is as good as F-22, you are only deluding yourself like those Boxers, only to be utterly obliterated by a real canon.