Article

2013-02-06 Science & Technology

Test Flight of ChiCom J-20 Stealth Fighter

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2013-02-06 11:37|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ] Top

#1 Well, at least the canopy works the way it should.

That is one BIG fighter, I bet it has the turning radius of a F-4, which was about 20 miles if I remember.

Posted by Bill Clinton 2013-02-06 13:03|| 2013-02-06 13:03|| Front Page Top

#2 I'd like to see the RCS numbers on this bird.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2013-02-06 14:09|| 2013-02-06 14:09|| Front Page Top

#3 Looks like a long range interceptor or perhaps a naval strike aircraft. It is a beeeeg mother, and yeah the RCS on that sucker in a turn must largish.

Posted by Shipman 2013-02-06 16:48|| 2013-02-06 16:48|| Front Page Top

#4 Naval Strike aircraft would make sense. They might think the stealth can get them close enough to hit our carriers.

Posted by Charles 2013-02-06 16:55|| 2013-02-06 16:55|| Front Page Top

#5 Manned Exocet.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-02-06 16:58|| 2013-02-06 16:58|| Front Page Top

#6 That is a nice video.

It is clear that the plane is very big, and heavy. But it should be more maneuverable in the horizontal than an F-4, because of its multiple large control surfaces. In the vertical the F-4 would probably blow the doors off of this thing.

The way the engine exhaust is controlled at take-off and how the engines light is also interesting, although not indicative of anything special.

The flight profile and angle of attack are also unremarkable, especially for a plane that appears unloaded and otherwise aerodynamically clean. This could be because it is a limited test, or that the plane is just a dog. Hard to say.

Certainly the RCS will be relatively big from any angle other than possibly head-on, and even there it will be big enough.

It probably will fly faster and for longer ranges than an exocet would, but doesn't seem to be any more dangerous.

Posted by rammer 2013-02-06 17:42|| 2013-02-06 17:42|| Front Page Top

#7 From what I've read elsewhere the engines available to the Chinese now won't power this bird the way they'd like. They can't build the proper engine themselves yet and the Russians won't sell them the engines they'd like (e.g., what's in the latest MiG and Sukhoi jets).

Posted by Steve White 2013-02-06 20:06|| 2013-02-06 20:06|| Front Page Top

#8 Besoeker: I have read recently that the Chinese have reportedly converted a large number of their obsolete Mig-19 and 21-class aircraft to operate unmanned. For use in saturation attacks, among other things.

They could do that with this thing too.

If the flight is one-way they could abuse the engine a bit more.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-02-06 20:10|| 2013-02-06 20:10|| Front Page Top

#9 I'm thinking long-range naval scout.

Providing targeting information for their 'Carrier Killer' ballistic missiles.

Orion

Posted by Orion 2013-02-06 21:04|| 2013-02-06 21:04|| Front Page Top

#10 I wonder how many of the Chinese fighters are too expensive to use....I'm betting none.

What good are fighters and ships that are too expensive to risk in combat? Our Navy and Air Force will soon be so small and high-value that we simply cannot afford to lose even a single one.

Which makes them essentially useless.

Orion

Posted by Orion 2013-02-06 21:32|| 2013-02-06 21:32|| Front Page Top

#11 Chinese Stealths versus Okinawa-based US Sealths oer the Sea of Japan + Koreas, unless China decides to preemptively strike Okinawa's airfields.

CHINA-VS-JAPAN-N-US oer Senkakus/Diaoyus = "FALKLANDS II/III" or KOREAN WAR-STYLE "MIG ALLEY", albeit imder Nuclear Combat/NucWar conditions???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2013-02-06 22:56|| 2013-02-06 22:56|| Front Page Top

#12 I suspect that thing is a bit more manuverable than it looks; not only are the control surfaces big, but there is an awful lot of travel, especially the canards. watching the engines stage up in 'burner makes me think they have some horses also, but if they are only the testbed and low power versions, this bird might be more than a one trick pony. fixed wing ( no fold ability) will probably give it 3 hard points per side plus a centerline station. video cut out on me right after the take off.

Posted by USN,Ret. 2013-02-06 23:23|| 2013-02-06 23:23|| Front Page Top

23:43 JosephMendiola
23:30 Procopius2k
23:27 USN,Ret.
23:25 USN,Ret.
23:23 USN,Ret.
23:05 USN,Ret.
23:02 KBK
22:56 JosephMendiola
22:47 JosephMendiola
22:30 JosephMendiola
22:27 DarthVader
22:16 JosephMendiola
22:08 Procopius2k
22:01 trailing wife
21:57 Thing From Snowy Mountain
21:33 JosephMendiola
21:32 Orion
21:27 Barbara
21:23 Ptah
21:13 trailing wife
21:09 tu3031
21:08 trailing wife
21:04 Orion
20:58 trailing wife