I wonder if those aircraft hardened shelters can stand bunker-busting bombs that has been widely used since the Gulf War. Cruise missiles are one thing while bunker-busting bombs are a whole new challenge.
PLA Air Force news, pics and videos
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Most hardened aircraft shelters these days are not designed to be able to resist individual PGMs, cruise missiles or bunker busters.
They're designed to resist bombs with smaller submunition bomblets so that a single bomb is unable to wipe out a length of unhardened hangars.
Instead, it complicates the enemy's targeting and forces them to have to use one weapon per shelter if they want to guarantee a kill, which reduces the number of effective strikes per sortie.
Realistically, overbuilding hardened aircraft shelters, as well as providing them cover from satellites is one way to increase hardened aircraft shelter effectiveness.
I.e, you have enough hardened aircraft shelters for more aircraft than are assigned to the base, the enemy doesn't know which aircraft shelter is actually in use, and they end up wasting PGMs on shells. Moreover, HAS tend to be relatively cheap compared to aircraft, so you can build a ton of decoys and pseudo-decoys.
I.e, you have enough hardened aircraft shelters for more aircraft than are assigned to the base, the enemy doesn't know which aircraft shelter is actually in use, and they end up wasting PGMs on shells. Moreover, HAS tend to be relatively cheap compared to aircraft, so you can build a ton of decoys and pseudo-decoys.
Just a comparison point. The Indians think their new HAS technology can withstand 2000 pound (or approximately 1,000 kg) bomb direct hits. NATO HAS during the cold war were engineered to withstand 225 kg bomb direct hits.
For reference purposes, F-22 JDAMs reach about 500 kg at maximum, the F-35s can carry GBU-31 JDAMs with 1000 kg of explosive, and Tomahawk missiles carry around 500 kg of warhead.
So it's possible that newer Chinese HAS are similarly overhardened and can resist standard 1000 kg conventional explosives, although not necessarily specialized hangar busters.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
From GT what is this project from Xian and Chengdu?
The First Aircraft Research and Design Institute under state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the developer of Chinese warplanes including the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft and the JH-7 fighter bomber, announced in a statement on Friday that a key project reached a major objective on Thursday, five months earlier than the original schedule, being a great gift for the CPC's centenary. The statement did not reveal the nature of the project nor the nature of the major objective, but said it was very challenging and was not previously even expected to be accomplished on schedule.
Another AVIC branch, the Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute, developer of the J-20 stealth fighter jet, revealed in a statement released on its official WeChat account last week that it was developing an undisclosed new aircraft, and an undisclosed aircraft was about to make its first flight. It did not elaborate if the two undisclosed aircraft were the same aircraft.
Military observers are also eagerly waiting to see if China will announce any more achievements in major military programs.
The First Aircraft Research and Design Institute under state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the developer of Chinese warplanes including the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft and the JH-7 fighter bomber, announced in a statement on Friday that a key project reached a major objective on Thursday, five months earlier than the original schedule, being a great gift for the CPC's centenary. The statement did not reveal the nature of the project nor the nature of the major objective, but said it was very challenging and was not previously even expected to be accomplished on schedule.
Another AVIC branch, the Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute, developer of the J-20 stealth fighter jet, revealed in a statement released on its official WeChat account last week that it was developing an undisclosed new aircraft, and an undisclosed aircraft was about to make its first flight. It did not elaborate if the two undisclosed aircraft were the same aircraft.
Military observers are also eagerly waiting to see if China will announce any more achievements in major military programs.
What makes you think it is the same project @Hendrik_2000?
I assume the Xian project is the H-20.
The Chengdu project might be anything really. Perhaps a stealthy J-10 replacement?
I assume the Xian project is the H-20.
The Chengdu project might be anything really. Perhaps a stealthy J-10 replacement?
Xi’an is working on KJ-600 and (likely/possibly/hopefully) H-20. I’m new to PLA watching, but even I can temper my excitement (and vanquish the inner fanboy) to say that it’s likely referring to KJ-600?
and CAC is working on J-20 iterations (B version and supposedly 2-seat model). Less likely would be a stealthy J-10 replacement, 6th [5th] gen fighter, or (oh god the fanboy is stirring again) JH-XX…
I’m going with KJ-600 and J-20B (or even 2 seater J-20).
Doesn't look thick enough to fight dedicated 2000 lb bunker busters. But it does look just about tailored to stop SDB I. Which is a dangerous weapon as your average US fighter can carry 8 to 16 such bombs.
F-35 can carry 2 GBU-31 JDAMs in the 2000 lb range.