• Aviation

  • China's 5th-Gen. Stealth Fighter J-20, Flight Tests Soon?

China is rapidly progressing on the world military weapons front, deploying an aircraft carrier-killing mobile missile, the Dong Feng 21D. They expect to launch China's first aircraft carrier this year. And, most germane here: China is conducting pre-flight taxi tests of its fifth-generation first stealth fighter, the J-20 "Black Eagle" at the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute in western China. (It seems just yesterday I was reporting here of their J-10 capable fighter). One photo of the J-20 (labeled origin Newscom) I have seen, but cannot for obvious reasons reproduce it here.

The J-20 appears to be a cross between our F-22 Raptor and our F-35 Joint Strike Fighter on side view with single-seat forward cockpit, twin outward-canted ruddervators, twin jet engines but an apparently longer fuselage. A forward canard with strakes just behind the cockpit is apparent, unless contrasting paint or shadow deceives the viewer.

The J-20 appears to directly challenge America's superiority in the skies. And, it is suggested/expected China will produce far more J-20s than 187, the total F-22 production until program stoppage by our current administration. America needs to rethink their military philosophy.

All kinds of discussion going on about this thing.

It is interesting how varied it is...from"OMG the West is doomed" to the timing of the release of the pics is to "protect north Korea" all the way to "It's an elaborate hoax" by the ChiComs to make us nervous and go deeper in debt.

Either way I think you are right Doug, we need to rethink our military philosophy.

Some Discussions

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-14178-postdays-0-postorder-asc.html

http://www.forumdefesa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6369&start=30

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?191690-Mysterious-Photos-of-Possible-Chinese-Next-Generation-Fighter/page26

Thank you, Zane. Just to clarify, the first aircraft carrier for China is a Chinese refit of a Russian-era carrier. And the Investor's Business Daily issue of 6 January 2011 ran the story of the J-20 "Black Eagle" taxi tests with photo, titled "The Unveiling of China's Raptor" on one of their editorial pages, P. A12. Flight tests were expected to occur on 7 January 2011. Other web articles, as opposed to just BLOG sites, are running extensive J-20 coverage with more photos. The J-20 will carry missiles and have in-flight refueling capable of operation beyond China's borders.

5 days later

China's stealth Fighter, the J-20 "Black Eagle" flew for the first time Tuesday, 11 January 2011, Chinese officials reported. The 15 minute flight took place from the Chengdu airfield where it was first shown and photographed last week. The flight was confirmed to US Defense Secretary Gates (who co-incidentally happened to be in China this week) by China's President Hu Jintao.

Interestingly, China's Defense Minister stated that China is not an advanced military force, "The gap between us and that of advanced countries is at least two or three decades," he stated, according to The Guardian.

Defense experts have said the J-20 appears to be less advanced than US fighters, while appearing to be a stealth fighter.