Chengdu J-20 pictures, analysis and speculation Part II

[Deino]

Now confirmed !

 

[kaiserbill]

Ta Deino.
She looks quite purposeful.
When is it likely to enter service again?

It's difficult to keep up with the various fighter programmes, especially with relatively often time slippage.

 

[Deino]

'2012' taxi-test ....

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNzQ1MDI5MDQw.html

... looks like a dragon spreading its wings and ready to fly !

 

[Deino]

Just took of today !! ... so congrats to the guys at CAC.

 

[Deino]

 

[sferrin]

IMO this thing is far more impressive than the Russian T-50.

 

[airman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxEXT4XUiEw

always about J-20

 

[latenlazy]

IMO this thing is far more impressive than the Russian T-50.

Why.

 

[Deino]

Repainted '2001' re-appeared !

 

[Deino]

Two nice ones from today ....

 

[LowObservable]

Most timely!

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

The shrunken engine nacelles and paint job make the aircraft look much better than the old prototypes. This is a rather good looking plane.

 

[bobbymike]

http://defense-update.com/20141006_j20_carriers.html#.VDlx_MJ0zMo

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

http://defense-update.com/20141006_j20_carriers.html#.VDlx_MJ0zMo

Seems like speculation, to be honest.

 

[Deino]

Yes and no !

There are indeed since years several rumors about a possible carrier-capable naval version of the J-20, that still competes with a design from SAC for the future naval fighter. How this one will ever look like ... that's pure speculation and by the way this is a typical stipd part of that report:

However, the design of the Chengdu J-20 is currently too large to be deployed aboard the Liaoning, according to the report.

It's not the size (esp. length and span), which is problematic, but overall the wing geometry !

Deino

 

[Magoodotcom]

Latest on J-31 and J-20 from Feng at Information Dissemination

http://www.informationdissemination.net/2014/10/small-update-to-chinas-5th-gen-project.html

 

[Deino]

Nice one ... original source is from his blog:
http://china-pla.blogspot.de/2014/10/small-update-on-chinas-5h-gen-project.html

... by the way one small mistake:

... The test aircraft in question were J-20 prototype No 2012, Y-20 prototype No. 783 and Y-8FQ (ASW variant) prototype No. 731. ...

In fact it was the new medium-size AEW called KJ-500, that strangely has the same CFTE-serial as the mentioned Y-8GX-6 (Y-8FQ).

Added are the three images he mentioned.

Deino

 

[Deino]

Reportedly J-20 '2013' is in the air right now !

 

[Deino]

 

[Deino]

The best image so far ! ... seems to have no longer a pitot !

 

[chuck4]

How many flying prototypes are there now?

 

[flanker]

5.

 

[Deino]

 

[FighterJock]

Why the greyed out area in the photo?

 

[Deino]

To admit this has nothing to do, it's simply this photographer's style to put his sign above all images. In most cases to hide the serials - esp. on the current J-10B serials - but since we know that both engines are the same and most likely as before the AL-31FN it's nothing special.

Deino

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

Speaking of engines, after reading some old posts from Sino Defence Forums, it appears that the current J-20 engine is the AL-31FN, or some further development of it by Salyut, and possibly uprated to something like 137 kN. It might even be the same Series 3 as used currently by the J-10B. It's supposed to be interim until the WS-15 engines come online some time near the end of the decade.

 

[Deino]

Exactly ... that is also my "conclusion" !

 

[Deino]

 

[Deino]

A bit better version of the original image !

 

[Deino]

Surprise, surprise ... already during the maiden flight of '2013' there were rumors about yet another prototype ... but '2015' !?? ... I'm still skeptical. ???

 

[Deino]

Reportedly '2015' has just performed ist maiden flight !

 

[Deino]

To admit I'm still surprised and speechless, even 2011 and 2012 alone would be a great success or progress to this program, but that they managed to fly 4 J-20s this year is something I did not expect.

Therefore if the 201x aircraft are already representing a similar status like the J-10 101x- pre-production models, we could probably even speak of something similar to a LRIP.

2001 - 11. January 2011
2002 - 6. Mai 2012 (now renumbered as 2004)
-----
2011 - 1. March 2014
2012 - 26. July 2014
2013 - 29. November 2014
2015 - 19. December 2014

Deino

 

[Deino]

Is this real ??? Usually that guy is quite a reliable poster ?!!! ??? ???

 

[Thorvic]

So it begs the obvious question wheres 2014 then and what is it being used for ?

 

[Deino]

So it begs the obvious question wheres 2014 then and what is it being used for ?

To admit the most reasonable - itself in this case a quite funny contradiction - is a certain superstitious feeling in some Chinese provinces, where "14" sounds pronounced like "will die" ...

 

[Deino]

 

[sferrin]

Nice!

 

[FighterJock]

Very nice Deino. Not much diffenrence between 2014 and 15, looks like they have settled at a definitive design for the J-20.

 

[Deino]

So ... and this was the year of the J-20 with a nice family-portrait of all four birds from 2014 ...

 

[RadicalDisconnect]

How reliable is this?

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/beijing-banned-export-of-its-new-stealth-fighter-6c50124fec6a

Apparently the Chinese won't be exporting the J-20, contrary to many people's expectations.