Posted on 08/05/2025 5:02:55 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
Air superiority is no longer just a matter of the capabilities of individual aircraft. It’s a question of posture, doctrine, and overall warfighting infrastructure. And in that domain, the contest is no longer so lopsided. The West can no longer take comfort in its F-35 fleet.
The J-20 has evolved into its operational equal—if not its superior.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...
It how does it stack up against the F-22 (which we foolishly cancelled)?
And where will those J20’s fight? How will they be refueled? And with F22’s mixed in with F35’s, the most advanced enemy plane, regardless of country wouldn’t stand a chance.
Not to mention the CCP/Soviet codicil to military strategy: “Quantity has a guality all its own” From what I understand you can make at least 5-6 J20s for the cost of one F-35
The F-35 was designed to perform many missions, but none of them with excellence
Until a solution is found we should restart making and upgrading F 22 as well as upgrade f 15s
Suspect article from a suspect source. NZ centric with left tilt.
bú hào
This source always has the most pro-chinese, anti-american articles. Who’s funding it?
"whichweObunghole foolishly cancelled", and destroyed the tools to make more...
Airplanes mean little It is always the last-mile issue. Missiles are now the most important thing. Ours are probably better right now.
And all those Soviet planes were superior as well.
/ s
Asked Grok to compare the two jets.
Here are the salient points:
### 8. Strengths and Weaknesses
- F-35:
- Strengths: Superior stealth, sensor fusion, interoperability, and combat experience. Global logistics network supports sustained operations.
- Weaknesses: High cost, limited internal payload, and moderate maneuverability. Software and maintenance issues persist.
- J-20:
- Strengths: Longer range, larger weapons bay, and potentially superior maneuverability. PL-15 missile provides a long-range advantage.
- Weaknesses: Less mature stealth and avionics, limited combat experience, and lack of interoperability with non-Chinese forces.
### 9. Hypothetical Engagement
In a direct comparison:
- Air-to-Air: The F-35’s stealth and sensor fusion give it an edge in beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements, allowing it to detect and engage the J-20 first. However, the J-20’s PL-15 missile and longer range could pose a threat if it avoids early detection. In within-visual-range (WVR) combat, the J-20’s maneuverability might give it an advantage, especially with thrust-vectoring.
- Air-to-Ground: The F-35’s precision strike capabilities and multirole flexibility make it superior for ground attack missions.
- Networked Warfare: The F-35’s ability to integrate with other platforms (e.g., F-22, AWACS) gives it a significant advantage in coalition scenarios, while the J-20 relies on China’s more centralized command structure.
### 10. Conclusion
The F-35 and J-20 are both formidable fifth-generation fighters, but they reflect different priorities. The F-35 is a multirole, stealth-focused platform with unmatched sensor fusion and interoperability, making it ideal for networked, coalition-based operations. The J-20 prioritizes air superiority, long-range engagements, and regional dominance, with improving but less mature technology.
- Choose F-35 for versatility, stealth, and coalition warfare.
- Choose J-20 for long-range air superiority and regional power projection.
The outcome of a hypothetical engagement depends on the scenario, pilot training, and supporting assets, but the F-35’s technological edge and combat experience give it a slight advantage in most contexts.
The bigger question, how many can we and China build in an all out war? Replacing lost equipment is what ultimately wins, and China smokes us in that regard.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/china-dominates-shipbuilding-industry
-“China has rapidly established itself as the world’s dominant shipbuilding power, marginalizing the United States and its allies in a strategically important industry.
-China’s lead in the global commercial shipbuilding market is huge and growing. The country’s largest state-owned shipbuilder built more commercial vessels by tonnage in 2024 than the entire U.S. shipbuilding industry has built since the end of World War II.
-Foreign companies, including firms based in many U.S.-allied countries, purchase 75 percent of ships built at China’s dual-use shipyards, funneling billions of dollars in revenue and transferring key technologies into the country’s naval industrial base.
-Through its “military-civil fusion” strategy, China has integrated commercial and military production at many of its shipyards, giving its People’s Liberation Army Navy access to infrastructure, investment, and intellectual property acquired from commercial contracts.
I suspect the same is true with all of China’s military equipment. Like it or not, China ( and Russia) is now the world’s military manufacturing giant.
The cost of the J-20 is higher than the F-35
“Quantity has a guality all its own” From what I understand you can make at least 5-6 J20s for the cost of one F-35”
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That’s the major problem right there. Both China & Russia make military equipment at a fraction of the cost compared to the US. If we don’t rein in our greedy defense industries we will bankrupt ourselves just trying to keep up with our opponents.
Latham can tout his professor credentials all he wants, he talks with authority he does not have about subjects he does not know.
I think the answer to that dilemma lies in the Trump Administrations recent air power pivot away from carrier based 6 gen fighters to a new strategy.
The Chinese have invested heavily in regional force power projection to destroy US aircraft carriers to prevent our carrier task groups from operating in the region in time of war.
The Chinese have based much of their military expansion on technology stolen from the US in the 2009 -2012 time frame. The Chinese are not the best at innovation but they are very good at copy
Of course , this means that they have left other bases uncovered.
Never fight the war your enemy has prepared for. Make him fight the war you have prepared for. The B-21 and F-47 make the Chinese fight the fight we have prepared for and that they are totally unprepared for.
And how many real life missions has the Chinese plane flown?
The financial ability to keep your pilots in the air training during peacetime, is a major factor, is America still tops with that?
The National Security Journal is a left wing operation which has as its mission the denigration of all American weapons systems to promote cancellation and reduced production.
Latham has never been in a fighter and is clueless about weapons capabilities and employment.
(As are most of the commentors here at Free Republican.)
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