SAC developing VTOL stealth fighter, called "Snowy Owl"

SinoSoldier

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Don't know the authenticity of the report, but it could very well be the SAC heavy stealth fighter-bomber we've been speculating about.

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'Snowy Owl' Jet Project: China's Latest J-20 Surprise

According to an image revealed by China's state-run TV station, the country is developing a fourth generation fighter. Nicknamed Snowy Owl by Chinese military enthusiasts, the appearance of the jet fighter is similar to the F-35 made by the United States defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

The J-20 stealth fighter is not the last Chinese technological development which will astonish the United States, one Chinese netizen said in an online message; Snowy Owl is just another example.

China is secretly developing a triplane-canard-configurated fighter that has a totally different architecture to that of the J-20, CCTV was quoted by Hong Kong-based Sing Tao Daily as reporting. Some Chinese online military experts believe that the fighter is very likly to be the Snowy Owl, currently being developed by the AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC).

Online information regarding the SAC says that it is manufacturing a new type of aircraft whose design uses triplane canard configuration, Chinese netizens reported.

The aircraft has a fixed vertical wing, and the engine has rhomboidal nozzles, according to the CCTV report, adding that the design renders the aircraft lighter than most of the fourth generation fighters.​

The prediction matches that of the Shenyang stealth fighter-bomber that is set to compete with the J-20 and serve alongside the J-16.
 
Semi-Lobster

Semi-Lobster

Junior Member
From my understanding the 'Snowy Owl' was Shenyang's LOSING bid against Chengdu's J-20, it was even larger than the J-20 and less stealthy
 
SinoSoldier

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Semi-Lobster said:
From my understanding the 'Snowy Owl' was Shenyang's LOSING bid against Chengdu's J-20, it was even larger than the J-20 and less stealthy
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The article clearly says that the Snowy Owl is smaller and lighter than most 5th-generation stealth fighters. Another article says that the Snowy Owl and J-20 are used in two different roles.

And from the information, the Snowy Owl seems to be much more capable than the J-20.
 
Blitzo

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
This article is contradictory, first it says the snowy owl looks similar to the F-35, then says it has a triplane configuration... I'm calling this one BS for the moment.
 
A

Anton Gregori

New Member
It's impossible to evaluate without a lot more information.

Of course China will have other stealth projects at various stages of development. Who knows how much work went into the J-20 competitor before the winner was picked, for example.

And of course every aircraft designer wants to show off what it can do and will be pitching ideas to the government. They can even go forward with them independently to a point. Of course they won't be completed until there's a buyer, but even without a buyer, you can't just do nothing if you want to stay in the game. You've got to keep developing your technology and pitching new ideas.

I bet a lot of the rumours we hear are about real projects that have had a lot of money put into them, but are never completed. The knowledge gained from them will eventually make it into a future jet.
 
FarkTypeSoldier

FarkTypeSoldier

Junior Member
»Ø¸´: Re: SAC developing VTOL stealth fighter, called "Snowy Owl"

SinoSoldier said:
The article clearly says that the Snowy Owl is smaller and lighter than most 5th-generation stealth fighters. Another article says that the Snowy Owl and J-20 are used in two different roles.

And from the information, the Snowy Owl seems to be much more capable than the J-20.
Click to expand...

Maybe the ''Snowy Owl'' J-14 is built for a different purposed. It could be:

1) A carrier-based stealth fighter alongside with the J-15

2) An operational aircraft which compliments the J-20 combat role

3) An export version to sell to other countries to fund for more stealth projects

4) All of the above

But personally, given the rising GDP and military expenditure of PLA, they dont need to export the J-14. Being also a stealth aircraft, it might be the J-14 being used for combat fighting near the mainland while J-20 serves as an advance combat role for 1st Island Chain. While the carrier-version of J-16 can break through the 2nd Island Chain in the future when PLAN got its 2 idigenious carrier.
 
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FarkTypeSoldier

FarkTypeSoldier

Junior Member
»Ø¸´: Re: SAC developing VTOL stealth fighter, called "Snowy Owl"

Bltizo said:
This article is contradictory, first it says the snowy owl looks similar to the F-35, then says it has a triplane configuration... I'm calling this one BS for the moment.
Click to expand...

There is no way the J-14 and F-35 lookalike... From the picture even a newbie like me could see the different. I say the photo of J-14 (dont know PSed or not) looks more like the cleaner version of J-20 than F-35.
 
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