Top designers for China's advanced warplanes on Wednesday updated the market on the production status for the J-20 stealth fighter jet, domestically developed engines for the Y-20 large transport aircraft and next-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet at the ongoing Airshow China in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.
Responding to an inquiry from the Global Times concerning the production capacity of the J-20 at a press conference at the airshow, Wang Haitao, deputy designer of the aircraft, said that China's aviation industry can satisfy any level of demand from the PLA Air Force.
The research and development period for aviation equipment is usually long, but now with advances in industrial technology, China has accelerated this process, Wang noted.
"Particularly for equipment like the J-20, we need to do it faster in all aspects, including designing, production, testing and crafting," Wang said.
Tang Changhong, chief designer of the Y-20 aircraft, revealed at the press conference that the plane will be equipped with two types of domestically developed engines, both of which are undergoing flight tests that have been progressing smoothly.
After being equipped with these engines, the Y-20's capabilities have received a boost respect to fuel-efficiency, range and maximum takeoff weight, Tang said.
When asked about China's next-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet, Sun Cong, the chief designer of the J-15, China's first-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet, said at the press conference that "When the aircraft is ready, people will get to see it."
"This year, people should be able to see good news on the next-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet," said Sun, who is also the chief designer of the FC-31, China's second stealth fighter jet.
The FC-31 has been a long-rumored candidate to become the country's next-generation carrier-based fighter since its flight performance debut at the Airshow China 2014.
