Numerical composition of 5th gen fleet of J20/J31

Phead128

Captain
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
Which strategic Air Force would China attempt to get strategic parity with?

In Chinas immediate vincintiy, Japan (45 F-35), Korea (40-60 F-35), India/Russia (~200 Pakfa each).
 

FarkTypeSoldier

Junior Member
The number of 5th gen fighters that China needs to consider would be dependable on its economic growth. F-35s and T-50s have to be purchased from their own manufacturing countries and the buying countries may have limited capabilties in producing the parts needed while China could produce most of the parts and weapons systems for its indigenious fighters programmes except perhaps, for the engines itself. The complexity and superiority of the fighters will need to be taken into consideration too. You do not need the same number of air planes to match your opponent's air force. An advance fighter with superior weapons may match two advance fighters with lesser advance weapons. I am not saying which fighters are superior, just making a hypothesis. The model would also changed as the procurement blocks goes by.

Also, even if a country may order say 40 units of F35s or 40 units of T-50, it may take some time to manufacture, assemble, testing, flight tests...etc and then to delivery. In short, the deal may perhaps stretch over a period of "several" years, say 4 years. So in 1 years, only 10 aircrafts may be produced; you must also factored in some other issues such as social and political factors which may hinder the production of these aircrafts. As compared to China who could produce indigeniously in a year, hence over a period of similar years, they might be able to produce more aircrafts depending on their industrial capabilties, which again the engines might be a crucial factor.

In my humble opinion, China needs to maintain the its 'backbone' fighters such as in the likes of J-11Bs, J-10Bs and JH-7s. These 3rd gen would still be doing most of the defending works for the PLAAF and PLANAF. The more advance fighters (speculated) in the likes of J-20 and rumoured H-8 bombers would be doing the attacking orders. Hence, in order to match/counter the air superiority of other countries who have F-35s, China need to introduce a fleet of 5th gen fighters with the $$$ which they got. As of now, we do not know the cost/unit of J-20, J-31 and other new unmanned armed/unarmed vehicles so it is not very wise to speculate the number of units they might purchase.

From Gen. Lin Biao's most famous quote, "Attack the direction where they feel its safe!"

Against a country with superior air power, you would not do anything stupid as to provoke a war against them. However, if the other party do, that is how the H-6K with superior CJ-10 cruise missiles would do. These missile could be fired away from the range of most AA weapons and do the job by disabling as much of these advance fighters as possible.

“When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.”
― Sun Tzu
 
Last edited:

Phead128

Captain
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
Has anyone played BF4 with air superiority?

OMG, Imagine 28 players, 14 J-20s vs. 14 F-35s, or 14 F-35 vs. 14 PAKFA O.O

It's an amazing sight, like a dream come true. That's why I wanted to bring up how many J-20s China plans to field, because seeing so many birds in the sky is like mind blowing, I will post up a picture soon of the dog fights :D

I've read that China plans to field 400-500 J-20s, is this true?
 

antiterror13

Brigadier
Has anyone played BF4 with air superiority?

OMG, Imagine 28 players, 14 J-20s vs. 14 F-35s, or 14 F-35 vs. 14 PAKFA O.O

It's an amazing sight, like a dream come true. That's why I wanted to bring up how many J-20s China plans to field, because seeing so many birds in the sky is like mind blowing, I will post up a picture soon of the dog fights :D

I've read that China plans to field 400-500 J-20s, is this true?

hmmmm 400 is a bit too high in my opinion and I don't believe PLAAF needs that many of J-20, 200 J-20s would be a better choice.

I would like to see PLAAF to have (2025-2030 timeframe)
600 J-10A/B/C
400 J-11A/B/C
120 J-15A/B
150 J-16A/B
200 JH-7A/B
200 J-20A/B
200 J-31A/B
+ existing SU-27 and SU-30MKK2
 

FarkTypeSoldier

Junior Member
The number of 5th gen fighters that China needs to consider would be dependable on its economic growth. F-35s and T-50s have to be purchased from their own manufacturing countries and the buying countries may have limited capabilties in producing the parts needed while China could produce most of the parts and weapons systems for its indigenious fighters programmes except perhaps, for the engines itself. The complexity and superiority of the fighters will need to be taken into consideration too. You do not need the same number of air planes to match your opponent's air force. An advance fighter with superior weapons may match two advance fighters with lesser advance weapons. I am not saying which fighters are superior, just making a hypothesis. The model would also changed as the procurement blocks goes by.

Also, even if a country may order say 40 units of F35s or 40 units of T-50, it may take some time to manufacture, assemble, testing, flight tests...etc and then to delivery. In short, the deal may perhaps stretch over a period of "several" years, say 4 years. So in 1 years, only 10 aircrafts may be produced; you must also factored in some other issues such as social and political factors which may hinder the production of these aircrafts. As compared to China who could produce indigeniously in a year, hence over a period of similar years, they might be able to produce more aircrafts depending on their industrial capabilties, which again the engines might be a crucial factor.

In my humble opinion, China needs to maintain the its 'backbone' fighters such as in the likes of J-11Bs, J-10Bs and JH-7s. These 3rd gen would still be doing most of the defending works for the PLAAF and PLANAF. The more advance fighters (speculated) in the likes of J-20 and rumoured H-8 bombers would be doing the attacking orders. Hence, in order to match/counter the air superiority of other countries who have F-35s, China need to introduce a fleet of 5th gen fighters with the $$$ which they got. As of now, we do not know the cost/unit of J-20, J-31 and other new unmanned armed/unarmed vehicles so it is not very wise to speculate the number of units they might purchase.

From Gen. Lin Biao's most famous quote, "Attack the direction where they feel its safe!"

Against a country with superior air power, you would not do anything stupid as to provoke a war against them. However, if the other party do, that is how the H-6K with superior CJ-10 cruise missiles would do. These missile could be fired away from the range of most AA weapons and do the job by disabling as much of these advance fighters as possible.

“When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.”
― Sun Tzu

I will further back my statement with a popular China military analyst programme.

[video=youtube;PTJ26GmuaDo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTJ26GmuaDo[/video]

@ 22:35, it states that Chinese side have the following inventory now:
1) Su-27SK: 143 units
2) Su-27UBK: 28 units
3) Su-30MKK + Su-39MK2: 100 units
4) J-11B: 62 units
5) J-10A: 220 units

Total 3rd gen fighters: Around 553 jet fighters

For Japanese side, they have:
1) F-15J: 157 units
2) F-15DJ: 45 units
3) F-2A & F-2B: 62 & 32 units*
* During the 2011 Tsunami, around 14 units of F2s were damaged by the flood water washed inland due to the tidal waves, currently as of now, only 80 units of F-2s are in service.

Total 3rd gen fighters: Around 282 jet fighters

Back to the topic, with China's over 500 units of 3rd gen fighters, it needs at least 50 to 100 plus units of 5th gen fighters. Also the earlier figures does not include bombers like JH-7/7A and H-6 series bombers and other assets such as refuelling tanker & AWACs in likes of KJ-2000s and KJ-200s. To be exact, China besides the 50 to 100 units of 5th gen fighters, it needs around 30 to 40 new gen bombers to add to that.

China's massive. These 500 units are scattered thoughout the whole country, it takes time to gather all fighters in wartime. Japan on the other hand, is small and it wont take long to gather their resources.

3rd gen fighters are the backbones for many countries and 4th & 5th gen fighters are darn expensive to buy and maintainence. Early air-borne warning + 3rd gen fighters could overwhelm the likes of several 4th & 5th gen fighters without the aid of AWACs. Afterall, if you were to attack a country, bringing your AWACs close means revealing your fighters and risk of being shot down. In direct confrontation, utlising 4th & 5th gen fighters to attack the info & datalink assets would mean blocking out vital battlefield information being passed around. However, it is expected Chinese AWACs to operate within the range of its 3rd gen fighters protection and APAR 052Cs for max air-defenses. Thus when 4th or 5th gen fighters reveal its weapons, it is as good as being locked on by AWACs & APAR radars!

HOw a nation view its fighters are vital. Even if China were to retire at least half of its 3rd gen fighters, you wont see it be replaced with a similar number of 5th gen fighters.
 
Last edited:
Top