China’s Secret Fleet of Stealth Fighters

[Sri Lankan]

China’s Secret Fleet of Stealth Fighters

The signs have been there for some time. In 1997, the US Office of Naval Intelligence stated their conviction that a 4th generation stealth fighter was under development in China. Then in December, 2008, the highly respected “Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft” went on record saying that China has been developing a “heavyweight” stealth fighter for many years.

In 2005, a former Northrup B2 design engineer was arrested for selling highly classified data about the B-2 and its stealth design to China. Noshir Gowadia has admitted to the charges and so there is no question that the propulsion system and stealth design features of the B-2 have been studied intensively by those designing fighters and bombers for China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

In April 2009, China cyberwar experts attacked the US Department of Defense computers that hold classified data about the F-35 program. Apparently a great deal of data was downloaded, although theft of information in the highest security classification was not acknowledged.

At least two Chinese stealth fighters are farther along in development than anyone would have imagined six months ago. The most recent of these stealth fighter photographs was published on November 25, 2009 on a website that has high level expertise in all matters relating to Chinese military aviation.

Unveiled in 2002, the Shenyang J-11B is a very advanced, multi-role attack fighter with Chinese-made avionics and some degree of reduced radar cross section (stealth) – ideal for trying out new ideas about increased stealth. Since 2006, it has been a testbed for the Chinese FWS-10A ‘TaiHang’ turbofan engine. The FWS-10A is similar to the Russian AL-31F, and is a candidate for next generation stealth aircraft propulsion.

The J-15 is expected to be stationed on the Varyag aircraft carrier, now in the last stages of fitting out in Dalian. The Russian AL-31F, an advanced and proven turbofan engine, is the first choice for a power plant. The American fighter that most closely resembles what little we know about the J-15 is the F/A-18C ‘Super Hornet’. Latest news from China states that the J-15 made its maiden flight on August 31, 2009.

A second ‘new’ stealth fighter – the J-20 – seems to be in development and we know even less about it than the J-15. Russia remains essential for important features: reduction of radar cross section and the best of the advanced turbofan engines. The J-10B fighter is used as a testbed for many J-20 systems. A full scale model of the J-20 may have been completed in 2009. The maiden flight for the J-20 is scheduled for sometime in 2012 with production and combat readiness set for 2015.

The Chinese scrutinize many foreign aircraft for best design features beyond those in the USA and Russia.

A prototype of the advanced Su-33 was acquired by China from the Ukraine in 2001. It likely contributed many design features to current Chinese stealth fighter designs.

This concept is often described as an Xian-H6i which is an odd identification. All versions of the Xian H6 bomber series are designed with an earlier generation, ‘classic’ long narrow fuselage that has no flying wing characteristics.

China’s Quest for Superpower Status

Think about it! There is No Reason why the Chinese should not be aggressively developing stealth military aircraft. Flush with 2 trillion+ USD as they ride out the global recession in much better shape than the United States, research and development can easily be financed. If China can approach parity with the USA in numbers and quality of stealth aircraft, nuclear carrier battle groups and nuclear attack submarines, they have become a ’superpower’ via projection of their foreign policy and military strength.

A trillion dollars + will be spent on the F-35 program before it concludes many years hence. Monies spent on stealth aircraft in the United States further weaken the overall economy of the crumbling super power. In that alone, China’s ’stealth aircraft program’ will have accomplished a great deal.

This planet does not want to see a continuation of America as the world’s sole superpower, nor would it be a ‘good thing’ for China to assume first position by itself. When neither country can achieve dominance, there is a bipolar world in which cooperation, rather than confrontation, should be the foreign policy of choice. Ideally, trillion dollar weapons system programs should not be the route to peace, but history often takes a less than direct path to conflict resolution and friendly competition.

China’s Secret Fleet of Stealth Fighters|Environmental Graffiti

[Sanchez]

The Sukhoi fighters are not possible to be stealthy due to their aerodynamic features. At most the RCS could be brought down to 3-5m2 range like J-11B and Su-35BM. So J-15 shouldn't be called as stealthy fighters.

J-20 is an interesting description. It does represent the direction of PLA's effort under development. Some imaginary looks:
http://i.imagehost.org/0055/1_83.jpg
http://f.imagehost.org/0031/10020713...8c18704579.jpg

PLA is not aiming at future fighters to be superior than F-22 but better than F-35 in air combat capability.

[no_name]

I also have a couple of CGIs to share. Yeah I know it's likely fan art but I thought the photos looks really cool. If China is to make a proper 4th gen I want to see more than just twin engine modified J-10 or J-11. So something like those would be really nice.





Yeah I know canards not stealthy etc etc but just relax and enjoy pics.

[no_name]

Actually I personally felt that this particular design might have some basis and are not just ordinary fan art.

[topjumper]

Originally Posted by no_name

Actually I personally felt that this particular design might have some basis and are not just ordinary fan art.

It looks like a F22 with canards It's a good looking drawing alright but I'm really hoping we can fly a 4th gen fighter without the canards, but until it is really rolled out we don't really know, we are still years away from it yet.

[no_name]

Originally Posted by topjumper

It looks like a F22 with canards It's a good looking drawing alright but I'm really hoping we can fly a 4th gen fighter without the canards, but until it is really rolled out we don't really know, we are still years away from it yet.

lol that's partly why I want canards, without it, it would have been:

It looks like a F22

Actually among other things the nose shape is quite different. It is flatter and more of a duck beak looking contraption.

I think Chinese engines are still not as powerful as those used by F-22 and designs of J-xx will put a bit more emphasis on aerodynamics shape without compromising stealth too much.

[no_name]

Slightly unrelated but this shows the difference between prototype and finished F-22:

[topjumper]

Did you get these pics from cjdby? Took me a while to read through some the threads there, but seems like a couple of "credible" (?) sources there revealed some pretty convincing design features. If their words are alluding to some elements of truth, looks like the canards are here to stay but will be fully maneuverable and composed of special materials to "reduce" radar signatures.

But then again, there's so much secrecy around its design none of the insiders (if there were any) would say anything, just toe-dancing around it. I won't even bother translate any of those, whether the sources are reliable or not it's in our interest to keep it low key. The chinese can go dig it themselves.

[ariel_sharon123]

In April 2009, China cyberwar experts attacked the US Department of Defense computers that hold classified data about the F-35 program. Apparently a great deal of data was downloaded, although theft of information in the highest security classification was not acknowledged.
.................................................. .................................................. ..................
the true nature of chinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

[topjumper]

Originally Posted by no_name

lol that's partly why I want canards, without it, it would have been:

It looks like a F22

Actually among other things the nose shape is quite different. It is flatter and more of a duck beak looking contraption.

I think Chinese engines are still not as powerful as those used by F-22 and designs of J-xx will put a bit more emphasis on aerodynamics shape without compromising stealth too much.

I know dude, really hope we can improve on our engines as soon as possible, no one wants to throw more money at buying foreign engines any more -- fattens other people's wallets while learning very little ourselves.

[topjumper]

Originally Posted by ariel_sharon123

In April 2009, China cyberwar experts attacked the US Department of Defense computers that hold classified data about the F-35 program. Apparently a great deal of data was downloaded, although theft of information in the highest security classification was not acknowledged.
.................................................. .................................................. ..................
the true nature of chinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Dude, why are you so quick at throwing cheap insults? First of all we don't know these accusations are true, secondly even if it is true it shows we have some good hackers, not everybody can break into the DoD network for fun. If you can break into it, you'd have my sincere respect and I mean it!! Peace...

[sherdil76]

Originally Posted by ariel_sharon123

In April 2009, China cyberwar experts attacked the US Department of Defense computers that hold classified data about the F-35 program. Apparently a great deal of data was downloaded, although theft of information in the highest security classification was not acknowledged.
.................................................. .................................................. ..................
the true nature of chinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

some steal data others snatch the freedom and kill the rest

[cloyce]

Originally Posted by ariel_sharon123

In April 2009, China cyberwar experts attacked the US Department of Defense computers that hold classified data about the F-35 program. Apparently a great deal of data was downloaded, although theft of information in the highest security classification was not acknowledged.
.................................................. .................................................. ..................
the true nature of chinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

That was a well orchestrated mediatic operation. Newspaper of all europe have reported that claim.

But the claim has been dismissed in the some day by Pentagon and Lockheed Martin. Few ones reported it.

[no_name]

I dislike trolls from all sides. They ruins what otherwise is a pleasant discussion and exchange of ideas. They don't provide meaninful engagement and degrades the quality of threads as well as insults other people's intelligence.

It's cheap to feed on emotional manipulation.

regards,

[Parashuram1]

@to the thread starter:

So let us get this straight; According to the thread heading, there is already a fleet of stealth fighters flown by Beijing yet the body says that work is going on?

Please make up your mind whether the PLAAF already had deployed the stealth fighters or whether they are working on the project. You are seriously mis-guiding the readers.


Thanks to all Chinese members to clear the confusion.