Chengdu J-20

J-20
Role Stealth air superiority fighter / multirole combat aircraft
National origin China
Manufacturer Chengdu Aerospace Corporation
First flight 11 January 2011[1][2]
Introduction 2018 (planned)[2]
Status In-development / flight testing[2]
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built 8 prototypes[3][4] and
at least 1 pre-production version [5]


The Chengdu J-20 (simplified Chinese: 歼-20; traditional Chinese: 殲-20) is a stealth, twinjet, fifth-generation fighter aircraft prototype being developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the Air Force (PLAAF).[6] The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011, and is expected to be operational in 2018.[1][2][7][8]

China's J-20 platform has the potential to be a capable, long-range strike system in the Asia-Pacific region, with low rate initial production appearing to have begun as of January 2016.

Development

Origins

The J-XX program was started in the late 1990s. A proposal from Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, designated Project 718, won the PLAAF endorsement following a 2008 competition against a Shenyang proposal that was larger than the J-20.[9]

In 2009, a senior PLAAF official revealed that the first flight was expected in 2010–11, with an service entry date by 2019.[10]

On 22 December 2010, the first J-20 prototype underwent high speed taxiing tests outside the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute.[11][12]

Flight testing

On 11 January 2011, the J-20 made its first flight, lasting about 15 minutes, with a Chengdu J-10S serving as the chase aircraft.[13][14] After the successful flight, a ceremony was held, attended by the pilot, Li Gang, Chief Designer Yang Wei and General Li Andong, Deputy-Director of General Armaments.[15]

On 17 April 2011, a second test flight of an hour and 20 minutes took place.[16] On 5 May 2011, a 55-minute test flight was held that included retraction of the landing gear.[17]

On 26 February 2012, a J-20 performed various low-altitude maneuvers.[18] On 10 May 2012, a second prototype underwent high speed taxiing tests, and flight testing that began later that month.[19][20] On 20 October 2012, photographs of a new prototype emerged, featuring a different radome, which was speculated to house an AESA radar.

On March 2013, images of the side weapon bays appeared, including a missile launch rail.[21][22][23]

On 16 January 2014, a J-20 prototype was revealed, showing a new intake and stealth coating, as well as redesigned vertical stabilizers, and an Electro-Optical Targeting System.[24][25][26] This particular aircraft, numbered '2011', performed its maiden flight on 1 March 2014 and is said to represent the initial pre-serial standard. Overall the year 2014 was quite a successful one and until the end of 2014 three more pre-serial prototypes were flown: number '2012' on 26 July 2014, number '2013' on 29 November 2014 and finally number '2015' on 19 December 2014.

On 13 Sep, 2015 a new prototype, marked '2016', begun testing. This prototype has noticeable improvements, such as apparently changed DSI bumps on the intakes, which save weight, complexity and radar signature. The apparent shape change of the 2016's DSI suggests the possibility of new engines to power the fighter. Altering the shape of the DSI suggests that this prototype may have more powerful engines than its predecessors, likely to be an advanced 14 ton thrust derivative of the Russian AL-31 or Chinese WS-10 turbofan engines, though, by 2020 the J-20 is planned to use the 18-19 ton WS-15 engine, enabling the jet to super-cruise without using afterburners. The flight booms around the engines have been enlarged, possibly to accommodate rearwards facing radars or electronic jamming equipment. It also has a stealthier bumper. The fuselage extends almost all the way to the engine's exhaust nozzles. The trapezoidal booms on sides of the nozzles are also reshaped, possibly to install rearwards facing radar or ECM equipment. Chinese engineers work overtime to optimize the J-20's performance for its projected debut. Most interesting are the J-20's engines. Compared to its "2014" and "2015" predecessors, the J-20's fuselage contains more of engine's surface area inside the stealthy fuselage, which would provide greater rear stealth for the J-20 against enemy radar.[27]

In late November, 2015; a brand new J-20 prototype numbered 2017 took to the sky. According to the latest source, the design of J-20 is already mature and will not directly use the 117S engine.[28]

Production

In late December, 2015, a brand new J-20 numbered 2101 was spotted. The 2101 was believed to be the low rate initial production (LRIP) version of the aircraft.[29]

Design

Characteristics

Chengdu J-20 prototype

The J-20 has a long and wide fuselage, with the chiseled nose section and a frameless canopy resembling that of the F-22 Raptor. Immediately behind the cockpit are low observable intakes. All-moving canard surfaces with pronounced dihedral are placed behind the intakes, followed by leading edge extensions merging into delta wing with forward-swept trailing edges. The aft section features twin, outward canted all-moving fins, short but deep ventral strakes, and conventional round engine exhausts.[30][31]

One important design criterion for the J-20 describes high instability.[32][33] This requires sustained pitch authority at a high angle-of-attack, in which a conventional tail-plane would lose effectiveness due to stalling. On the other hand, a canard can deflect opposite to the angle-of-attack, avoiding stall and thereby maintaining control.[34] Canard is also known to provide good supersonic performance, excellent supersonic and transonic turn performance, and improved short-field landing performance compared to the conventional delta wing design.[35][36]

Leading edge extensions and body lift are incorporated to enhance performance in a canard layout. This combination is said by the designer to generate 1.2 times the lift of an ordinary canard delta, and 1.8 times more lift than an equivalent sized pure delta configuration. The designer claims such combination allows the use of a smaller wing, reducing supersonic drag without compromising transonic lift-to-drag characteristics that are crucial to the aircraft's turn performance.[32][33][37]

According to the Jamestown Foundation, the J-20 has the potential for development into a high performance stealth aircraft comparable to the F-22 Raptor, with given appropriate engines.[38]

Engines

The prototype's engine is believed to be initially powered by WS-10 and / or the AL-31F engines.[2][39] China is currently working on an advanced domestic turbofan engine similar in performance to the Pratt & Whitney F119 coded WS-15,[40] but there are also speculations that Saturn AL-31#117S engine may be used for the initial batch of the J-20.[41][42][43] At the 2012 Zhuhai Air Show, Russia approached China in an unsuccessful bid to sell the Su-35, which included the 117S engines.[44] According to the latest news, China and Russia signed a contract for 24 Su-35 in November, 2015.[45] However, Chinese source stated that the design of J-20 is mature and it will not directly use 117S engine.[28]

The production version of the J-20 is believed to be the WS-15,[40] a turbofan engine currently under development.[41][46][47] According to Global Security, the engine core, composed of high pressure compressors, the combustion chamber, and high pressure turbines were successfully tested in 2005.[48] An image of the core appeared in the 2006 Zhuhai Air Show.[39][41][47][49][50][51]

Avionics

The aircraft features a glass cockpit, with two main large color liquid crystal displays (LCD) situated side-by-side, three smaller auxiliary displays, and a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD).[52][53][54]

A PLAAF Tupolev Tu-204 testbed aircraft was seen featuring a J-20 nose cone. It is believed to house the Type 1475 (KLJ-5) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with 1856 transmit/receive modules.[55]

Prototype "2011" featured a revised nose section with elements resembling a IRST/EOTS system, and a metal finish that loosely reminds the radar absorbing Haze Paint first used on F-16s, and reportedly included sensor fusion technology.[56] Chinese company A-Star Science and Technology has developed the EOTS-89 electro-optical targeting system and EORD-31 IRST for the J-20 and potentially other PLAAF fighters to detect and intercept stealth aircraft.

Armament

The main weapon bay is capable of housing both short and long-range air-to-air missiles (AAM) (PL-9, PL-12C/D & PL-21).

Two smaller lateral weapon bays behind the air inlets are intended for short-range AAMs (PL-9). These bays allow closure of the bay doors prior to firing the missile, thus enhancing stealth.[57][58]

Stealth

Analysts noted that J-20's nose and canopy use similar stealth shaping design as the F-22, yielding similar signature performance in a mature design at the front, while the aircraft's side and axi-symmetric engine nozzles may expose the aircraft to radar.[2][30][59] One prototype has been powered by WS-10G engines equipped with a different jagged-edge nozzles and tiles for greater stealth.[24]

Others have raised doubts about the use of canards on a low-observable design, stating that canards would guarantee radar detection and a compromise of stealth.[60][61] However, canards and low-observability are not mutually exclusive designs. Northrop Grumman's proposal for the U.S Navy's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) incorporated canards on a stealthy airframe.[62][63] Lockheed Martin employed canards on a stealth airframe for the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program during early development before dropping them due to complications with aircraft carrier recovery.[64][65] McDonnell Douglas and NASA's X-36 featured canards and was considered to be extremely stealthy.[66] Radar cross-section can be further reduced by controlling canard deflection through flight control software, as is done on the Eurofighter.[67][68]

The diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) enables an aircraft to reach Mach 2.0 with a simpler intake than traditionally required, and improves stealth performance by eliminating radar reflections between the diverter and the aircraft's skin. Analysts have noted that the J-20 DSI reduces the need for application of radar absorbent materials.[69][70] Additionally, the "bump" surface reduces the engine's exposure to radar, significantly reducing a strong source of radar reflection.[71]

Strategic implications

Political

The first test flight coincided with a visit by United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to China, and was initially interpreted by the Pentagon as a possible signal to the visiting U.S. delegation. Speaking to reporters in Beijing, secretary Gates said "I asked President Hu about it directly, and he said that the test had absolutely nothing to do with my visit and there had been a pre-planned test."[72][73] President Hu seemed surprised by Gates' inquiry, prompting speculations that the test might have been a signal sent unilaterally by the Chinese military.[74][75][76] Abraham M. Denmark of the Center for New American Security in Washington, along with Michael Swaine, an expert on the PLA and United States–China military relations, explained that senior officials are not involved in day-to-day management of aircraft development, were unaware about the test.[73]

Military

Robert Gates downplayed the significance of the aircraft by questioning how stealthy the J-20 may be, but stated the J-20 would "put some of our capabilities at risk, and we have to pay attention to them, we have to respond appropriately with our own programs."[77] The U.S. Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper testified that the United States knew about the program for a long time and that the test flight was not a surprise.[78]

Loren B. Thompson felt that J-20's combination of forward stealth and long range puts America's surface assets at risk, and that a long-range maritime strike capability may cause the United States more concern than a short range air-superiority fighter like the F-22.[39][79] In its 2011 Annual Report to Congress, the Pentagon described the J-20 as "a platform capable of long range, penetrating strikes into complex air defense environments."[80] A 2012 report by the U.S.‐China Economic and Security Review Commission suggests that the United States may have underestimated the speed of development of the J-20 and several other Chinese military development projects.[81]

Observers are not able to reach a consensus on J-20's primary role.[82][83][84] Based on initial photographs with focus on the aircraft's size, early speculations referred to as the J-20 as a F-111 equivalent with little to no air-to-air ability. Others saw the J-20 as a potential air superiority fighter once appropriate engines become available.[30][72][85] More recent speculations refer to the J-20 as an air-to-air fighter with an emphasis on forward stealth, high-speed aerodynamics, range, and adequate agility. The J-20 could threaten vulnerable tankers and ISR/C2 platforms, depriving Washington of radar coverage and strike range.[58]

Cyber security

In April 2009, a Wall Street Journal report indicated that, according to the Pentagon, information from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II had been compromised by unknown attackers that appeared to originate from China. There is some speculation that the compromise of the F-35 program may have helped in the development of the J-20.[2][72][85][86]

Specifications

Data from Aviation Week & Space Technology[87]

General characteristics

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Chinese Stealth Fighter Makes First Flight". Fox News. 11 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sweetman, William (3 January 2011). "China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter In Taxi Tests". Aviation Week. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "6th J-20 Stealth Fighter Rolls Out". Popular science. 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  4. ↑ "歼20战机或已冻结设计 不会直接用俄117S发动机" (in Chinese). CN: Sina. 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
  5. ↑ "J-20 production". TieXue Net. 2016-01-07.
  6. ↑ "Chengdu J-20 – China’s 5th Generation Fighter". Defense Update. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "《面对面》 对话何为荣： 中国正在研制第四代战机" (in Chinese). CN. Xinhua News Agency. 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "第四代战机，中国等不了十年！". China daily. 2010-02-21.
  9. ↑ "中国空军选定下一代战机由611所方案胜出". War China (in Chinese). 2010-11-05. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Chinese Fifth Generation Fighter Unveiled". SP's Aviation. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2015 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  11. ↑ "Chinese Stealth Fighter Unveiled?". Australian Aviation. 30 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Video: Chinese Stealth Fighter." Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Chinese Stealth Fighter Makes First Test Flight". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  14. ↑ Wall, Robert. "J-20 Completes First Flight". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "Chinese J-20 Fighter First Flight Ceremony." AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  16. ↑ "China stealth fighter "appears" to have made second flight". Reuters. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "Chinese J-20 stealth fighter makes third flight; landing gears folded." China Defence Mashup, 5 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Video: J-20 Combat Maneuver Tests". YouTube. Google. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Video: J-20 Prototype 2002 Ground Tests." YouTube. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  20. ↑ Axe, David (16 May 2012). "China Flies New Stealth Fighter as Problems Plague U.S. Jets". Wired.
  21. ↑ "This might be China's third J-20 stealth fighter". Foreign Policy. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  22. ↑ Cenciotti, David (26 March 2013). "China's new stealth fighter's missile launch rails prove Beijing can improve U.S. technology". The Aviationist. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "J-20." Baidu. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  24. 1 2 Axe, David. "China’s Latest Stealth Fighter Prototype Has, Well, Actual Stealth Features.". medium.com. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Upgraded, third prototype." The Aviationist, 21 February 2014
  26. ↑ "J-20 Prototype 2011 Taxi Test." Youtube. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  27. ↑ "Stealthier stealth: seventh upgraded Chinese stealth fighter prototype aims to take flight", Popular sciende.
  28. 1 2 "Mil", News, Sina, 2015-11-25.
  29. ↑ "新歼-20照片曝光 黄皮机身编号2101或已开始量产" (in Chinese). Ifeng. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 Kopp, Carlo; Goon, Peter (1 January 2011). "Chengdu J-XX Stealth Fighter Prototype". Air Power Australia.
  31. ↑ "Worldview Report | Vol. 14" digitalglobe.com 2 January 2013
  32. 1 2 "一种小展弦比高升力飞机的气动布局研究 A High Lift Low-Aspect Ratio Aerodynamic Configuration" sina.com Retrieved 20 March 2013
  33. 1 2 "Translation of article 一种小展弦比高升力飞机的气动布局研究" http://www.defence.pk Retrieved 20 March 2013
  34. ↑ "Super Agile aircraft and method of flying it in supernormal flight." Google Patents. Retrieved 20 March 2013
  35. ↑ Probert, B. "Aspects of Wing Design for Transonic and Supersonic Combat." NATO. Retrieved: 23 January 2011.
  36. ↑ Neblett, Evan et al. "Canards." AOE 4124: Configuration Aerodynamics, Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech, 17 March 2003. Retrieved: 28 November 2009.
  37. ↑ "一种小展弦比高升力飞机的气动布局研究 A High Lift Low-Aspect Ratio Aerodynamic Configuration" baidu.com Retrieved 20 March 2013
  38. ↑ "An Initial Assessment of China's J-20 Stealth Fighter." The Jamestown Foundation, 6 May 2011
  39. 1 2 3 Majumdar, Dave (13 February 2011). "J-20 a ‘wake-up call,’ former intel chief says". AirForce Times.
  40. 1 2 http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121119/DEFFEAT05/311190005/Deterring-China-8217-s-Fighter-Buildup?odyssey=nav%7Chead
  41. 1 2 3 Kopp, Carlo (6 May 2011). "An Initial Assessment of China's J-20 Stealth Fighter". The Jamestown Foundation.
  42. ↑ Johnson, Reuben F. (25 August 2011). "China’s development of fighter jets relies on Russian systems". Washington Times.
  43. ↑ "China Buys Su-35s - Business Insider". Business Insider. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
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  45. ↑ https://www.rt.com/news/322659-china-russia-su35-deal/
  46. ↑ "China Aerospace Propulsion Technology Summit.". International Aircraft Engine Association, 19 June 2012.
  47. 1 2 Fisher, Richard, Jr. "October Surprises in Chinese Aerospace." International Assessment and Strategy Center, 9 January 2013
  48. ↑ "WS-15" Global Security, 11 July 2011
  49. ↑ "The 'Long Pole in the Tent': China’s Military Jet Engines.". The Diplomat. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  50. ↑ "China makes progress in developing alloy for airplane engines.". Focustaiwan.tw. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  51. ↑ "China Has Made Great Breakthrough in High-temperature Alloy to Biggest Military Jet Engine." news.chinatungsten.com
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  54. ↑ "Is China Stealing America’s Top Stealth Fighter Jet Secrets?" GIZMODO Australia. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  55. ↑ "Stealth Radar Tests on Passenger Jet". Popular Science. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  56. ↑ Cenciotti, David (21 February 2014). "Upgraded, third prototype of China’s stealth jet ready for maiden flight". The Aviationist. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "China claims innovation in J-20 weapons bay design" AINonline, Retrieved March 2, 2014
  58. 1 2 Sweetman, Bill. "J-20 Stealth Fighter Design Balances Speed And Agility" Aviation Week & Space Technology, 3 November 2014. Accessed: 5 November 2014. Archived on 5 November 2014
  59. ↑ Axe, David. "Chengdu J-20: China’s First Stealth Fighter." warisboring.com, 29 December 2010.
  60. ↑ Waldron, Greg. "Long March: China’s fifth-generation fighter is years away." Flight International. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  61. ↑ Hodge, Nathan. "China’s J-20 Fighter: Stealthy or Just Stealthy-Looking?" The Wall Street Journal, 19 January 2011.
  62. ↑ "F-23A & NATF-23" yf-23.net, 15 January 2013
  63. ↑ "NATF-23 diagram in hi-rez." Aerospace Project Review 15 January 2013.
  64. ↑ Sweetman, Bill. "From JAST To J-20". Aviation Week, 14 January 2011.
  65. ↑ Sweetman 2005, p. 122–124.
  66. ↑ "Agility+Stealth = X-36: formula for an advanced fighter " Design News. 14 January 2013
  67. ↑ "Faq Eurofighter (translation)". Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  68. ↑ Rosenkranz, Martin. "Austrian Eurofighter committee of inquiry." pp. 76–77. (English translation). Google. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  69. ↑ Hehs, Eric. "JSF Diverterless Supersonic Inlet." LockMart, 15 July 2000.
  70. ↑ "J-20's Stealth Signature Poses Interesting Unknowns." Aviation Week. Retrieved 13 January 2013
  71. ↑ "Fast History: Lockheed's Diverterless Supersonic Inlet Testbed F-16" aviationintel.com, 13 January 2013
  72. 1 2 3 Erickson, Andrew; Collins, Gabe (17 January 2011), China’s New J-20 Fighter: Development Outlook and Strategic Implications, Andrew Erickson, retrieved 23 January 2011, China plans to have at least 500 to 700 J-20 fighter jet before 2035 to challenge USA's F-35.
  73. 1 2 Wines, Michael and Elisabeth Bumiller. "Test Unrelated to Gates Visit, China Says." The New York Times, 12 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  74. ↑ Barnes, Julian E. (12 January 2011). "Gates, China Discuss Nuclear Strategy". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  75. ↑ Stewart, Phil (11 January 2011). "Gates: China confirms stealth jet test-flight". Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  76. ↑ Bumiller, Elisabeth and Michael Wines. "Test of Stealth Fighter Clouds Gates Visit to China." The New York Times, 11 January 2011.
  77. ↑ Bumiller, Elisabeth. "U.S. Will Counter Chinese Arms Buildup." The New York Times, 8 January 2011.
  78. ↑ Clapper, James R. "World Wide Threats Hearing" Director of National Intelligence, 10 February 2011.
  79. ↑ Thompson, Loren B. "Chinese Fighter Test Embarrasses Gates, Casts Doubt On Goals." Lexington Institute, 13 January 2011.
  80. ↑ "Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China, 2011." Office of the Secretary of Defense, 6 May 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  81. ↑ "Indigenous Weapons Development in China’s Military Modernization." U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission Staff Research Report, 2012.
  82. ↑ Gresham, John D. (1 February 2011). "J-20 Assessment: Not So Fast!". Defense Media Network. Faircount Media Group. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  83. ↑ Cole, J. Michael (6 August 2012). "China Developing a 2nd Stealth Fighter? The rumored J-21 "Snowy Owl" would be China’s second stealth aircraft project, along with the J-20". The Diplomat. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  84. ↑ Majumdar, Dave (10 September 2015). "America's F-22 Raptor vs. China's Stealth J-20: Who Wins?". The National Interest. Center for The National Interest. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  85. 1 2 Kopp, Carlo (9 January 2011). "The Strategic Impact of China's J-XX Stealth Fighter". Air Power Australia.
  86. ↑ Groman, Siobhan, August Cole and Yochi Dreazen. "Computer Spies Breach Fighter-Jet Project." Wall Street Journal, 21 April 2009. Retrieved: 23 January 2011.
  87. ↑ Sweetman, Bill (2014-11-03). "J-20 Stealth Fighter Design Balances Speed And Agility". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 2014-11-08.
  88. ↑ Hsu, Brian. "China Claims Innovation in J-20 Weapons Bay Design | Aviation International News". Ainonline.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20.

Bibliography

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