Shenyang next gen combat aircraft thread
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
To celebrate forthcoming Chinese New year of the Snake!
Tbh I am as well
Chengdu's aircraft looks like it is capable of internally carrying large standoff armaments up to 6m long. Probably PL-17 and anti-ship cruise missiles. It does not appear Shenyang's aircraft will be able to do the same. Shenyang's looks smaller, and powered by only 2 engines. Also, its inlets appear to take up valuable space on the underside. There's just no way Shenyang's aircraft can accommodate an oversized weapons bay like Chengdu's.
I think Shenyang's aircraft is more of a traditional multi-role fighter. Chengdu's aircraft is more like a supersonic missile truck built to carry large standoff missiles. I don't believe they are competing with each other.
I think Shenyang's aircraft is more of a traditional multi-role fighter. Chengdu's aircraft is more like a supersonic missile truck built to carry large standoff missiles. I don't believe they are competing with each other.
It keeps happening, though, doesn't it? Might be time to re-evaluate some priors about Chinese aerospace capabilities.
Always better to lowball predictions rather than vice versa.
That said, it's less aerospace capabilities that have been viewed skeptically and more aero engine specifically
Aero engine are like submarines, people can't eyeball their specs so people stick with preconceptions, i.e. people believe the country that built the world's most advanced surface ships and >6 DDG at a time forgot about submarines.
Why engines?
They're arguably the most (likely) understood part of the whole reveal.