China Began Its First Flight Tests of Fifth Generation Fighter – The J-20
by China began its first flight tests of fifth generation fighter, say experts who have analyzed a series of photos, blurry, of a new aircraft, captured the runway. The plane, called the J-20 is designed to compete with F-22 (USA) and T-50 (Russia). Is China ready to build its own fighter of the fifth generation? What is known about this device? are the questions journalists from RIA Novosti trying to find an answer in an article published Thursday.
More photos here .
The aircraft is considered a mixture of American and Russian projects of the fifth generation aircraft, but the reality seems more complex. During the last 20 years, China has created its own fighters, but in close collaboration with Russia.
The success of this project depends on several factors, key elements being:
Engine
Nothing is known regarding the engine which drives the device. It is estimated that the airplane will be powered by promising WS-15 engine that develops a force of over 18,000 kilograms-force, but these engines have far exceeded the design stage. In addition, China failed to launch the production copy and independent production AL-31F engines, which equip the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 aircraft and their different versions. Apratele engines for Chinese manufacturing Sukhoi of Russia are delivered in kit form, and the Chinese but they just assemble them and adjust them.
Russian engines are used for J-10 fighter planes. WS-10, equivalent to the Russian AL-31F device has not yet managed to match the Soviet prototype in terms of longevity.
Materials
The problem of materials used is crucial. One of the particularities of a jet aircraft of the fifth generation radar signal AAC is poor, requiring the use of composite materials. The Chinese aviation industry has not yet awarded by the widespread use of these materials. Question whether China is able to design and produce modern composite materials for aircraft is still without an answer.
Radio-electronics
In China, radio-electronic weapons bring the same problems as engines: remain significantly lower than similar products of Russian, American and European, although spread gradually diminishes. As a result, China is forced to continue the importation of such equipment.
Today, Sukhoi Su-30MKK has the best fighter aircraft radar among Chinese, and most likely future radar device will be developed based on Russian electromagnetic detector.
Weapons
Weapons used by military air from China are mainly copied from prototypes American, Israeli and Russian in the 60s, 70s and 80s. The development of new generation weapons would take time, even if Beijing were to purchase foreign prototypes, even more as leading manufacturers of modern weapons, especially those intended for military aviation are increasingly less willing to share these technologies with China.
Result
One rule seems to be desrpinda since 1970: China regularly create prototypes of new generation fighter aircraft with 15 to 20 years late to the world’s leading aviation industry. This was the case with the apparatus of the third and fourth generation, and no doubt it will be the case of the fifth generation J-20 will make its appearance 20 years later against American YF-22 (prototype F -22A produced in series), 17 Russian MiG-delay from 1.44 and later than May 14 S.37 (Sukhoi Su-47).
If you do not yet know how this project will evolve, but can be defined ‘window’ of the world market meant that product. Given the traditional practice, China will probably create a functional equivalent to the aircraft sufficiently ’serious’ fifth generation to be sold in Central Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Asia or South-east African clients most solvable, at prices five times lower than American and Russian competitors.
It is possible that J-20 version will be equipped with materials and imported weapons, mostly Russian. What is certain is that China will be required over the next 20 to 30 years to import modern fighter aircraft.
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