China activating J-20 stealth fighters now in advance of South Korea getting 40 F-35s in 2018
by noreply@blogger.com (brian wang) from NextBigFuture.com on (#2FFFH)
China's state media reports that that the fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter has been put into active military service and this is two years earlier than previously expected. China's military has not confirmed this.
Military insiders said the appearance of J-20s in the air force was meant as a warning to Japan and South Korea, which are expected to buy US F-35 stealth fighters now that China has equally advanced warplanes.
The J-20 stealth fighter has weaker engines and is not as stealthy as the US F-22. However, the J-20 would be able to put US Aircraft carriers at risk and would be able to attack refueling planes and AWAC radar planes.
Thursday's report did not provide details on where the fighter will likely be deployed.
Video footage aired by CCTV afternoon produced J-20 fighters alongside PLA Y-20 transport planes and H-6K bombers. The broadcast did not say how many J-20s were operational.
The report said the new aircraft had joined joint drills with troops, rocket forces and the navy.
A source close to the PLA said the J-20s were all equipped with home-made WS-15 engines, but because the engine had not entered mass production, only a few J-20s were available for service.
"There are still a series of technical problems that need to be tackled [on the J-20], including the reliability of its WS-15 engines, [and the plane's] control system, stealth coat and hull materials and infrared sensor, Said the source, who requested anonymity
In the US as a result of the US deploying a batch of F-35s in Japan in January, and South Korea planning to have 40 F-35s in 2018, "it's urgent for China to show off its achievements as soon as possible", the source said, adding That more J-20s would join the PLA this year.
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Military insiders said the appearance of J-20s in the air force was meant as a warning to Japan and South Korea, which are expected to buy US F-35 stealth fighters now that China has equally advanced warplanes.
The J-20 stealth fighter has weaker engines and is not as stealthy as the US F-22. However, the J-20 would be able to put US Aircraft carriers at risk and would be able to attack refueling planes and AWAC radar planes.
Thursday's report did not provide details on where the fighter will likely be deployed.
Video footage aired by CCTV afternoon produced J-20 fighters alongside PLA Y-20 transport planes and H-6K bombers. The broadcast did not say how many J-20s were operational.
The report said the new aircraft had joined joint drills with troops, rocket forces and the navy.
A source close to the PLA said the J-20s were all equipped with home-made WS-15 engines, but because the engine had not entered mass production, only a few J-20s were available for service.
"There are still a series of technical problems that need to be tackled [on the J-20], including the reliability of its WS-15 engines, [and the plane's] control system, stealth coat and hull materials and infrared sensor, Said the source, who requested anonymity
In the US as a result of the US deploying a batch of F-35s in Japan in January, and South Korea planning to have 40 F-35s in 2018, "it's urgent for China to show off its achievements as soon as possible", the source said, adding That more J-20s would join the PLA this year.
Read more