Amid all the excitement and fanfare, I'd like to point out that the fighter development gap between the US and China is closing rapidly. One could almost say that China's fighter R&D is accelerating.
Let's do a quick & dirty down memory lane.
Maiden flight of first 4th gen fighter
US (F-14): 1970
China (J-10A): 1997
Gap: 27 years
Induction of first 4th gen fighter
US (F-14): 1974
China (J-10A): 2003
Gap: 29 years
Maiden flight of first 5th gen tech demonstrator
US (YF-22): 1990
China (J-20 #2001): 2011
Gap: 21 years
Maiden flight of first 5th gen production fighter
US (F-22 EMD): 1997
China (J-20 #2011): 2014
Gap: 17 years
Induction of first 5th gen fighter
US (F-22): 2005
China (J-20): 2017
Gap: 12 years
Production of first 6th generation tech demonstrator
US (NGAD): ~2020
China (J-XD): 2024
Gap: 4 years
Let's do a quick & dirty down memory lane.
Maiden flight of first 4th gen fighter
US (F-14): 1970
China (J-10A): 1997
Gap: 27 years
Induction of first 4th gen fighter
US (F-14): 1974
China (J-10A): 2003
Gap: 29 years
Maiden flight of first 5th gen tech demonstrator
US (YF-22): 1990
China (J-20 #2001): 2011
Gap: 21 years
Maiden flight of first 5th gen production fighter
US (F-22 EMD): 1997
China (J-20 #2011): 2014
Gap: 17 years
Induction of first 5th gen fighter
US (F-22): 2005
China (J-20): 2017
Gap: 12 years
Production of first 6th generation tech demonstrator
US (NGAD): ~2020
China (J-XD): 2024
Gap: 4 years
