(Franco Iacch)
20/10/16

http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/il-chengdu-j-20-pattuglier%C3%A0-nel-2018-il-mar-cinese-meridionale

The hunt for the fifth-generation Chinese Chengdu J-20 has performed a few hours ago, the test flights of Chengdo, in southwest China, with a new air-to-air livery. Probably is the final choice for the low initial production rate.

Four fighters J-20 is currently operating with serial number 2001, 2002, 2011 and 2017. The first two, in 2001 and 2002 were used as technology demonstrators while 2011 and 2017 are configured pre-production. The aircraft configuration has not changed.

China has completed four J-20 and within the next six months that number could triple. The Chengdu J-20, officially came into Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) in June. The Chengdu J-20 project, hunting of fifth generation took off for the first time in January of 2011, it is defined by the Pentagon as a long-range platform, able to penetrate heavily defended environments. The Chinese have always said that a platform of fifth generation, with the F-22 similar performance but with the operating costs of the F-35, it entered service with Initial Operational Capacity by 2018.

The J-20 is a platform that is inspired by Russian, American and European. It presents similarities in design to the technology demonstrator MiG 1:44 which, in turn, recalls the EFA-2000. For the West, however, the Chengdu J-20 is inspired from Northrop YF-23, only prototype brought together all'YF-22 for the Advanced Tactical Fighter project.

For the Chengdu J-20 will include at least six variants: long-range interceptor, and escort dogfight, ground attack, long-range reconnaissance, electronic and launching pad for anti-satellite missile attack. Even the J-20 is currently equipped with two Russian manufacture turbojets, even if the line hunting should be equipped with an engine of conception and national production.

The Chinese aim to exploit the technology of the Russian NPO Saturn AL-41F1 turbofan that equip the Su-35E (Beijing has bought twelve) to develop a new propulsion system. Despite the efforts, the Chinese have not yet developed jet engines able to reach the performance of Pratt & Whitney F119 and F135, which equip respectively the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning Lockheed Martin. The J-20 will not be able to reach its full potential until China will not be able to develop the engines with a thrust-to-weight ratio of ten to one.

The Chinese concept of having two stealth fighter for different types of missions is the same as the US F-22 / J-20 for supremacy (domain) aircraft and F-35 / J-31 for the bombing, Close Air Support and tactical support. The J-20 should carry internally up to a maximum of four missiles BVRAAM, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and two short-PL-10 radius. It expected to reach a maximum speed of 2,100KMH according to an estimate made with two Saturn AL-31.

The first operational use for the J-20 will be in the South China Sea.

(Photo: web)

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IZAKOVIC