Posted on 01/07/2011 8:24:32 PM PST by Allthatucantleavebehind
While the Pentagon downplays Chinas rollout this week of what appears to be a jet fighter designed using sophisticated stealth technology, military experts are warning that the aircraft reportedly capable of besting Americas F-22 in speed and maneuverability could pose the greatest threat yet to U.S. air superiority.
Decorated Navy fighter pilot Matthew Whiz Buckley, a Top Gun graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School who flew 44 combat missions over Iraq, says, Its probably leaps and bounds above where we are, and thats terrifying.
As a former Navy fighter pilot, going up against something thats stealthy, highly maneuverable and with electronic systems more capable than mine -- thatll keep me up at night, said Buckley, now chief strategy officer at Fox3 Options LLC.
It was built to reduce radar signatures. You can tell it has some serious stealth technology, he said. My F-18 looks like an 18-wheeler on radar. That thing might not even show up.
When you try to make a jack of all trades, you have tradeoffs, Buckley said. Its obvious that the Chinese are throwing money and technology to making something the best, and here were worried that one is going to bankrupt the country.
We used be No. 1 at having the leading technology. ... Now, were kind of in catch-up mode, where weve never really been before.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
USAF's F-22
Russian T-50/PAK-FA PAK-FA
But, how good are there pilots?
Since when did American news media print that US forces are terrified of the supposed enemy forces?
Have we turned completely upside down?
This looks exactly like Russian Pravda back in the day.
Lies, lies and more lies.
Fox news?
F’n idiot traitors.......
Given what we know of the goods they send our way, I’d wonder about the finished product’s real world performance, reliability, and workmanship. There was a time when the MiG-25 was viewed with awe until on landed in Japan. Many aspects were less than impressive.
Any electronic devices in our house including appliances, that are made in China... usually don’t last very long. We go through VCRS, camcorders, dvd players like crazy. Nothing Made In China is any good in my opinion.
This is a disinformation article to make the chines think we’re scared of their plane. Too many other articles I’ve read recently with logic and facts concluding this chinese plane ain’t ready for prime time and if it’s using the best engines they have (from russia, hence the round exhaust) it’s currently underpowered. Plus will be less stealthy given the canards.
Many important precision electronic components are now only manufactured in China. The west has not built factories of such scale in years. They are doing more and more design and innovation on their own.
Stealth technology requires the highest precision manufacturing in the world but I wouldn't be surprised if they achieved it. The entire exterior of the aircraft must be built with pretty much zero tolerance.
Their younger people have a culture of hard work and education. We have a culture of laziness and Jersey Shore I'm sad to say.
They are 10-15 years from fielding their first squadron...and that's likely to be a beta test.
By then we'll have our full complement of F-22s, F-35s and hundreds of small UAV's flying in attack formations with them, or in ADVANCE of them.
An acquaintance of mine and drinking buddy was a trainer for the Raptor simulators. Pilots went through his program before they got in the aircraft. He was told there will be no more manned aircraft development in US military programs. Pilots are too expensive financially and politically.
The Raptor's proposed avionics upgrades and the F-35s out of the box complement of avionics are all designed with the capability to control dozens of UAVs...each.
UAVs are very cheap in relative terms. On average 1/5 to 1/10th the cost of manned aircraft with the same capabilities.
You'll soon hear terms about high-powered, high bandwidth airspace networks and UAV swarming.
In many respects the awe was warranted. Faster, higher, more maneuverable and greater range than anything we had at the time.
The commies have ALWAYS been good at airframes and engines (well, EXCEPT for the Chinese who are still buying 20yr old engine technology from the Russians because they can't keep their own running).
However, the future of air combat has little to do with any of the above qualities.
The Mig-25 Foxbat had a very impressive rate of climb but that was because it was designed to intercept US bombers at high altitude. The Foxbat was a pure interceptor, never intended to dogfiht, toe to toe, with other fighters. If anything, maneuverability was restricted since excessive g-loads could tear the missles from their pylons and the pylons out of the wings. This is according to Victor belenko, the Soviet pilot who defected with his Foxbat to Japan in 1976
Looks like a Sukhoi T-50(Su-47). It might be a threat in 10 years, if they can workout all the kinks.
Having known the guy for almost 20 years, I fear he is just trying to get air time to plug his company, which basically does pep talks to businesses.
By the way, one usually gets the callsign "Whiz" for some drunk urination episode. I can't remember the specific incident in his case.
Ed Zackery!
In my younger days, when I entered road races and triathalons, I sometimes found myself passing people riding bikes many times more expensive then my old Schwinn.
It’s not just about the technology (which as others on here have mentioned is questionable) but it is about the pilots, their experience, the number of skilled pilots and their tactics.
There is nothing in the American military which operates solely on it’s own. So it’s retarded to try to compare one flashy looking jet in pictures to men, machines, and tactics that have been honed and proven by the US Military.
Now saying all of that, I am not about to say “ignore the Chinese.” We need to keep a close eye on them, but this story, in and of itself is nothing to worry about.
Ed Zackery!
In my younger days, when I entered road races and triathalons, I sometimes found myself passing people riding bikes many times more expensive then my old Schwinn.
It’s not just about the technology (which as others on here have mentioned is questionable) but it is about the pilots, their experience, the number of skilled pilots and their tactics.
There is nothing in the American military which operates solely on it’s own. So it’s retarded to try to compare one flashy looking jet in pictures to men, machines, and tactics that have been honed and proven by the US Military.
Now saying all of that, I am not about to say “ignore the Chinese.” We need to keep a close eye on them, but this story, in and of itself is nothing to worry about.
As an aside look at the T-50 picture for a second. See the first stage of the engines? It can't even be considered low observable if you can look straight in the intake and see the engines. You would get so much jet engine modulation return off the engine it would look like a flying barn on radar.
This is why I love free republic - Instant debunking by the dude who knew the quoted dude...
There goes a half-billion in Chine$e yuan... buh-bye.
Sweet. Imagine the look on Hop Sing's face when he sees the Lilliputians about to take him out.
8^D
“But, how good are there pilots?”
They have a population of 1.5 billion. I’d guess the chances are good for the chinese to have more good pilots the we do have pilots at all.
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