Re: New Generation Fighter
Well thanks to Red Moon, Roger, Siege Crossbow and Mwyrum for your answers (apologies if I have missed anyone).
Well OK lets go with what it says on the tin and agree it is a long range and long endurance Air Superiority Fighter. I look a bit askance at it replacing things such as the Flankers as that seems madness when all the bulk of J7 and early J8 variants remain in service . Yes it is a bee in my bonnet as until this lot is replaced with modern fully "Informationalised" aircraft, I just can't see if the PLAAF is up simply for modernisation or wholesale redesign.
That being said lets assume that what we have seen is pretty much what goes into production.
First Question: How many units?
To me the J20 looks big and expensive - the true top predator of the PLAAF. That's fine, but suggests that this is not going to be China's F35 more of its F22 (saying that I seriously doubt if the F35 is going to be America's F35 on account of budget constraints - which although off topic will have an effect on Chinese planning).
My guess is that the PLAAF are planning no more than a 100 units of this monster and the reason is simple. Why use this expensive aircraft in ways that compromise its key features when they can be done by cheaper and more appropriate aircraft?
I think that as a Stealth Fighter with a long range and long endurance, it will carry a large number of Air to Air Weapons and be a critical component in offensive force packaging. Let other aircraft carry the Cruise Missiles and ASM's etc, the J-20 can just shadow them or hover in the vicinity, invisibly and pounce on the enemy as they come to intercept and investigate. All the better when you think of it as it means that the enemy will come to you and you will not need to waste time looking for them.
Other missions I can see would be attacking enemy Air Defence Systems and also stalking enemy AWACS and Refuellers.
To make this plane however the main stay of the future PLAAF would be prohibitively expensive overkill, especially when you consider the likely non appearance of many of the proposed units that the J-20 would be designed to counter.
Lets not forget about the very capable Flankers and J10's that China has. otherwise you may just make them jealous about the new baby
Bedsides many aspects of these new technologies can easily find their way into smaller platforms for less demanding fronts and contingencies.
Well thanks to Red Moon, Roger, Siege Crossbow and Mwyrum for your answers (apologies if I have missed anyone).
Well OK lets go with what it says on the tin and agree it is a long range and long endurance Air Superiority Fighter. I look a bit askance at it replacing things such as the Flankers as that seems madness when all the bulk of J7 and early J8 variants remain in service . Yes it is a bee in my bonnet as until this lot is replaced with modern fully "Informationalised" aircraft, I just can't see if the PLAAF is up simply for modernisation or wholesale redesign.
That being said lets assume that what we have seen is pretty much what goes into production.
First Question: How many units?
To me the J20 looks big and expensive - the true top predator of the PLAAF. That's fine, but suggests that this is not going to be China's F35 more of its F22 (saying that I seriously doubt if the F35 is going to be America's F35 on account of budget constraints - which although off topic will have an effect on Chinese planning).
My guess is that the PLAAF are planning no more than a 100 units of this monster and the reason is simple. Why use this expensive aircraft in ways that compromise its key features when they can be done by cheaper and more appropriate aircraft?
I think that as a Stealth Fighter with a long range and long endurance, it will carry a large number of Air to Air Weapons and be a critical component in offensive force packaging. Let other aircraft carry the Cruise Missiles and ASM's etc, the J-20 can just shadow them or hover in the vicinity, invisibly and pounce on the enemy as they come to intercept and investigate. All the better when you think of it as it means that the enemy will come to you and you will not need to waste time looking for them.
Other missions I can see would be attacking enemy Air Defence Systems and also stalking enemy AWACS and Refuellers.
To make this plane however the main stay of the future PLAAF would be prohibitively expensive overkill, especially when you consider the likely non appearance of many of the proposed units that the J-20 would be designed to counter.
Lets not forget about the very capable Flankers and J10's that China has. otherwise you may just make them jealous about the new baby
Bedsides many aspects of these new technologies can easily find their way into smaller platforms for less demanding fronts and contingencies.
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