J-XX

J-XX
Role	Combat aircraft
National origin	People's Republic of China
Designer	Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
First flight	January 11, 2011 (J-20)[1]
Introduction	2018 (J-20)[2]
Status	Under development
Primary user	People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)

J-XX^[3] J-X,^[3][4] and XXJ^[3] are names applied by Western intelligence sources to describe program(s) by the People's Republic of China to develop one or more fourth^[4] (by Chinese nomenclature) or fifth-generation fighter aircraft (by west).^[3] In a 2009 television interview, He Weirong (何为荣), deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, stated that China had multiple such programs underway and that an as-yet-undesignated fifth-generation fighter developed jointly by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation would be in service by 2017–2019.^[5] The maiden flight of the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter was conducted on January 11, 2011.^[1]

History

In 2002, Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Shenyang Aircraft Corporation had been selected to head research and development of the new fighter,^[4] a claim repeated in New Scientist the same week.^[6] However, a 2006 article in Military Technology referred to three designs; two by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and one by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.^[3]

According to the report from Jane's, development of the subsystems, including the engine and weapon suite for the next generation fighter, has been under way for some time. A photograph of a wind tunnel model published with the article showed a twin-engine aircraft with twin vertical tail fins. The article text mentioned that the aircraft would carry its weapons internally like the F-22 Raptor. New Scientist called attention to the angular, faceted features of the design, comparing them to the F-117 Nighthawk. Jane's also linked the programme with China's development of an engine with thrust vectoring capability.

The later report in Military Technology featured a picture of a completely different design, speculatively dubbed J-14 and said to be a Shenyang project, with the designations J-12 and J-13 being applied to (possibly competing) designs by Shenyang and Chengdu respectively. Since 2009, Chinese internet comments have repeatedly pointed to a merging of the two efforts, to be named J-14. Chengdu is rumored to be responsible for the airframe, while Shenyang focuses on the engines and other components.

In November 2009 He Weirong (何为荣), deputy commander of the Chinese air force, confirmed that "intense" research and development work on the fifth generation stealth fighter was ongoing. Being developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the aircraft has not yet been given a designation but is expected to be unveiled within the next 5 years and would enter service by 2015, according to Weirong.^[5] Another source quotes Weirong as saying the aircraft would enter service within 8 years, giving possible in-service dates of 2017 to 2019.^[7][8]

A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency official commenting on Gen. He's claims stated the DIA believes a first flight of the J-XX "will occur in the next few years", but it is also believed that operational deployment of the fighter "in meaningful numbers" will not take place "for about 10 years."^[9] U.S. Air Force and U.S. intelligence officials have stated their belief that China likely has all the resources, data and technology required to build a fifth generation fighter. However, doubts remain on whether China has enough knowledge in areas such as systems engineering, integration and production processes to build a fighter comparable to U.S. stealth designs which can also be produced in large numbers. It is speculated that the fighter may not be an "all-aspect" stealth design by some sources, for this reason.^[10] The U.S. Department of Defense expects China to have a handful of fifth generation fighters in service between 2020 and 2025, according to statements made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates in July 2009.^[11] However, a year later, in May 2010, this statement was rebuffed by the US' prime intelligence producer—Ulman stating that Chinese 5th generation fighter jets will be expected around 2018.^[2] In 2011 Gates changed his position to state that the Chinese may have 50 stealth fighters by 2020 and a couple of hundred by 2025 while the United States would have 850 and 1500 by those dates.^[12]

Design

The general design concept of the J-XX is that of a fifth-generation fighter which incorporates stealth, supercruise, super-maneuverability and short take-off capabilities, abbreviated "4S".^[13] One or more of the proposed designs are believed to incorporate several design features for increasing stealth and maneuverability while decreasing weight and drag.

The Chinese state television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) asserts:

A V-shaped pelikan tail could be implemented, replacing conventional vertical tail fins and horizontal stabiliser structures. This would be beneficial for reduction of radar signature, weight and aerodynamic drag, since control surface area and corresponding control mechanisms are reduced. Problems faced by this type of design are flight control system complexity and control surface loading. If the pelikan tail is adopted, use of engines with thrust vector control may alleviate these problems.^[14]

CCTV also asserts:

The new fighter may have a significantly longer fuselage than other fifth generation fighter designs, such as the F-22, for reduction of transonic and supersonic drag.^[15] A trapezoidal wing may be implemented for reduction of drag and radar signature.^[16] Use of an 's'-shaped air inlet and boundary layer separation system would greatly reduce radar signature.^[17]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "Chinese Stealth Fighter Makes First Test Flight". Fox News. 11 January 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/11/chinese-stealth-fighter-makes-test-flight/. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "New Chinese fighter jet expected by 2018: U.S. intelligence". Reuters. 21 May 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64K0MY20100521. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Coniglio 2006, P.44
4. ^ ^{a b c} Chang 2002
5. ^ ^{a b} Govindasamy, 2009
6. ^ Knight 2002
7. ^ "The new Chinese stealth fighter will be ready within 10 years"
8. ^ The forthcoming Chinese fourth-generation fighter
9. ^ Gertz 2009
10. ^ Fulghum & Barrie 2009
11. ^ Gates 2009
12. ^ Pennington, Matthew. "Gates: Despite early Stealth jet test, China's fighter fleet will lag US for years to come." The Canadian Press, 17 February 2011.
13. ^ Deng 2009
14. ^ The forthcoming Chinese fourth-generation fighter, p. 2.
15. ^ The forthcoming Chinese fourth-generation fighter, p. 8.
16. ^ The forthcoming Chinese fourth-generation fighter, p. 9.
17. ^ The forthcoming Chinese fourth-generation fighter, p. 10.

References

• "The forthcoming Chinese fourth-generation fighter" (in Chinese). news.ifeng.com transcription of China Central Television broadcast. 9 November 2009. http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/200911/1109_340_1426743.shtml  (English translation using Google Translate) Original CCTV hosted video
• Chang, Yihong (December 2002). "China Launches New Stealth Fighter Project". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-12-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20071225093240/http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw021210_2_n.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-11. 
• Coniglio, Sergio (February 2006). "China Develops Stealth Fighter". Military Technology: 44. 
• Deng, Jingyin (10 November 2009). "New generation of fighter jets on horizon". Global Times. http://www.globaltimes.cn/www/english/military/china/2009-11/483864.html. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 
• Fulghum, David A.; Douglas Barrie (24 November 2009). "China Promises New, Advanced Fighter". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/CHFIGHT112409.xml&headline=China%20Promises%20New,%20Advanced%20Fighter. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 
• Gates, Robert M. (16 July 2009). Untitled speech to Economic Club of Chicago (Speech). Chicago. http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1369. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 
• Gertz, Bill (19 November 2009). "DIA on China's new fighter". The Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/19/inside-the-ring-37209361/. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 
• Govindasamy, Siva (12 November 2009). "China expects fifth generation fighter in 10 years". Flight International. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/11/12/334680/china-expects-fifth-generation-fighter-in-10-years.html. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 
• Knight, Will (December 2002). "Chinese Stealth Fighter Plans Revealed". New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3174. Retrieved 2008-02-11. 
• "The new Chinese stealth fighter will be ready within 10 years". Avionews. 12 November 2009. http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1111360&pagina_chiamante=index.php. Retrieved 2010-03-15. 

External links

• Sinodefence J-XX