Posted on 12/22/2016 4:35:08 PM PST by RC one
The state-of-the-art J-20 fifth-generation jet fighter is a key part of the Chinese air force. According to Chinese military expert, Li Li, the J-20 could possibly break the US monopoly on fifth-generation fighters.
During an interview with CCTV, the military expert said that the Chinese jet fighter may exert an even bigger influence than the American F-22 Raptor.
Li Li further said that although the American F-22 Raptor is the first fifth-generation fighter commissioned in an air force, its performance is not satisfactory. She said that the J-20 and Russias T-50 will possibly manage to break the Western monopoly and that the J-20 could have a more significant influence than its Western counterparts. Chinese officials maintain that the J-20 will be exclusive to the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force.
Although the full specifications of the Chinese fighter are not yet publicly known, some observers expect that the J-20s will be able to match the stealth, radar-evading properties of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, developed for the US Air Force. The US F-22 stealth fighter is expected to be deployed in the Pacific by the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at sputniknews.com ...
We will probably do the same with upgrades to the F-16 and F-15 inventory
If the F-22 goes back into production it will probably be a second generation variant that incorporates improvements developed for the F-35
American defense contractors are pretty sharp and capable. It took us decades to bring the F-22 and F-35 on line and we have 35 years of Experience operating and maintaining these aircraft
China and Russia have stolen a lot of the tech that puts them a bit ahead of the game, but they still have lot to learn across the board
One minor point that people fail to appreciate is that it has not escaped the notice of our military that some day adversaries will have similar capabilities too. It's a testament to just how hard these planes are to field that only just they are showing up.
At the same time we have been the only ones flying these things for a generation and there is a reasonable chance that we have technology development and operational experience on how to counter low observable aircraft
>Id have to say that whatever fifth gen aircraft they end up making, it will be superior to the fifth gen aircraft that were presently making....since we arent presently making any fifth generation aircraft. I cant help but be reminded of the German Tiger tank of WW2. Nothing was better in the field but, in the end, it lost to allied mass production. The Chinese can out mass produce us. If they ever seriously allied with the Russians against us, it would be even worse.
An even better example is the fate of the Messerschmitt Me 262. By the time the Nazi’s got a lot of them built they were completely swamped by 10 times in inferior allied fighters and all destroyed.
We can put the F-22 back into production with some upgrades a lot faster than anyone else can build an operational fleet of 5th Gen aircraft.
Most important, we are making some pretty amazing engines and avionics
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