Or maybe his visit is about Chinese communist bullying in the region.
China has put out the welcome mat already. Chinese internet sources have shown this photo of the new J-21 stealth fighter prototype.
The J-21 gives the appearance of a pure air-superiorty machine, that would be more in the area of the F-22 than its' predecessor, the J-20.
The absense of rearward facing low observable nozzles on the J-21 could be:
1. They haven't figured that out, and that this of course is a prototype waiting on other design issues.
2. They don't want to spend that much on the airframe and consider something like "affordable stealth" (frontward facing and easy to maintain...like the F-35) good enough for the missions it will perform.
David and others consider the idea that China may only be able to afford either the J-20 or J-21. I'm not so sure. I would put my money on the J-21 being more air supremancy with some possible light strike ability, and the J-20 carrying more (longer range) strike capability yet being able to do interceptor duty.
A balanced approach in capability planning: backed up by tankers, airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and on their own turf, a credible integrated air defence system (IADS).
China's long game is steady. When matched up against a country over $16T in debt that has seriously de-skilled defence-thinking, China should be more than secure about defending their local interests into the future.
5 comments:
This does appear to be the same airframe that was being towed around the country in a traveling road show a few month back covered with a camo tarp.
If the estimated dimensions given by Chinese bloggers are correct, this aircraft is similar in size to the J-10, making it a medium size fighter. The possible use Klimov RD-33 engines would confirm a medium size aircraft making it perfect for future naval carrier operations.
A couple more photos posted over at Alert 5:
http://alert5.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/22c2477070925f82d35fb46af4094afc1.jpg
http://alert5.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/d3c94ce4ecd1453afa5355b882f2789f1.jpg
The new Passive Radar developped by EADS going into production in 2015 will make all stealth aricraft obsolete.
The new Chinese Stealth Fighter appears to be very similar to the Shenyang F-60 concept aircraft that Flight Global covered earlier this year. See photos below of the scale model:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/10/03/shenyang%20f-60%20rear.jpg
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/09/29/Shenyang%20f-60.jpg
On some of the Chinese forums, you can see a little bit better, sharper images, different rear angle. If it is a real airframe, I think it is sort of a demonstrator, you can see a significant gap in diameter between the engines installed and the airframe, I am guessing the Chinese are using proven engines for now, they look like Russian RD33s, for sure not the ones intended latter on. They would want Chinese engines and probably with lot more power.
From head on, it is a 100% copy of the F35, which has to make you wonder what capability advantage it has that the Chinese are unaware of!
I know China still has some problems with modern fighter engines but the gap will close rapidly with Western powers, you figure that they have everything on the avionics via spying so what is the advantage the USA has with the F35?
Way to early to tell if this YF22 vs YF23 or are the Chinese working on high low mix a la F15-F16? I would venture to say it might be closer to F14 to F18 without the carrier capability,yet.
Interesting, wasn't it former SecDEF Gate's visit where the welcoming carpet was the J-20?
Maybe it's better the next time around for the US DoD to invite the PRC Defence minister instead?? :/
Regarding any plausible future 'mix'... I'm thinking even the PLAAF will have budget limitations and not a blank check going forward.
I could see some decision made between either one or the other model procured robustly, mixed with J-15 and J-10B.
To me, the J-21 looks like a cross between a MiG-35 and F-22.
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