Posted on 01/29/2014 7:58:18 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Although some consider Chinese fighters to be little more than less impressive copies of Russian designs, the J-20, China's first fifth-generation stealth fighter, has the potential to become one of the world's most iconic military aircraft like Japan's Mitsubishi A6M Zero during World War II, according to Aireview, a Japanese magazine covering military aviation news.
Before the Zero first saw action against the Russian-built I-15bis and I-16 fighters operated by the Republic of China Air Force over Chongqing in September 1940, most Western military experts had a similar view of the Japanese fighter as people have towards Chinese fighters today, the magazine said.
Claire Lee Chennault, the legendary leader of the Flying Tigers — a group of American volunteer aviators recruited to help the ROC combat Japanese forces — sent warning to Washington about the threat posed by the Zero at the time, however none of his supervisors believed that Japan was able to effectively design its own plane.
The United States learned first-hand the now legendary capabilities of the Japanese fighter when Zeros wiped out the US defenses at Pearl Harbor and Manila in December 1941. The Zero's performance in the early stages of the Pacific War earned it a formidable reputation. Aireview said China is now developing an advanced fighter which may in time earn a similar reputation.
The article also said Chinese fighters are currently only superior in their numbers but not in quality, adding that without active electronically scanned array radar, China's J-10A fighter is unlikely to defeat Japan's American-built F-15J in a dogfight. The J-10B, the upgraded version of the J-10A, is reported to be equipped with active electronically scanned array radar but China does not have enough early warning aircraft compared to the United States and Japan, the magazine said.
Meanwhile, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force has 17 early warning aircraft and China has 11 — among them, only five are the most advanced Chinese KJ-2000 early warning planes. The People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy Air Force have around 1,500 fighters, five times the number of Japan, however China would at present still not be able to win a decisive air battle against Japan. However, the article maintained that China will be able to fix these problems in the future.
The J-10B and its successor, the J-20, both have the potential to reach the level of fame as the Zero during World War II, the magazine said, if the Chinese aviation industry is capable of upgrading the aircraft's software. Aireview stated that the J-20, with a large fuselage, is likely to be designed as a long-range multi-role fighter which can also be used as a tactical bomber.
As for the J-31, China's second prototype stealth fighter, its main purpose is to be exported to developing nations which are not able to purchase the US-built F-35, the magazine added.
The Zero facilitated Japans military objectives from 1940 well into 1942. Yes it was lightly armored but I've never seen photos of a smiling American pilot showing off the dented seatback of his fighter struck by .50 class or larger bullets.
** like Japan’s Mitsubishi A6M Zero during World War II,**
I read years ago that the Zero design was stolen from a prototype aircraft that Howard Hughes designed. The Japanese took a look at it and liked it, so took lots of photos of it, then designed their Zero after it.
PRECISELY!!!
I have read that too. I have also read that it is not true.
I have no idea which is correct but it sure does look like the Hughes plane.
We had the F-22, which is exactly what that aircraft looks like.
Zeros had no armor to protect the pilot and did not have self-sealing fuel tanks.
Japanese pilots were trained to engage enemies in slow speed dogfights. Above 275 mph the Zero’s excellent handling diminished, making tight high speed turns nearly impossible. The Zero’s maximum safe dive speed was 350 mph. Above that speed the fighter lost the ability to roll and the skin on the wings would begin to wrinkle. It the pilot pushed harder the Zero might shed its wings.
The Zeke’s roll rate at any speed was slower than all U.S. fighters of WW II. A plane’s roll rate is important because all acrobatic maneuvers with the exception of the loop start with a roll. If a P-40 latched onto the tail of a Zeke and the Zeke banked to turn away, a quick reacting pilot could roll his Warhawk inside his target. For a brief period the unfortunate Zero would be under his guns and fly right through his line of fire.
Perhaps I’ll have to stand corrected, but my take on this is that the Clinton administration gave the Chinese access to just about everything we had in the way of technology.
If you look at their designs, whose aircraft do they look like, the Russian’s or our own? I haven’t myself taken a look at everything they have, but some of it looks pretty U.S.-like.
While it wasn’t top notch stuff, there was an aircraft manufacturing plant back in the Chicago region, and the Chinese bought everything at the plant after it shut down.
They moved every bit of that plant’s equipment to China. It wasn’t a top level plant, but as I understand it, it wasn’t shabby either. They gained a lot of inside information for dirt cheap.
Our leaders have sold us way way way down the river.
My take is that it looks an awful lot like it. It’s certainly in that class by the looks of it.
If it ever gained super-cruise, there should be some investigations and some people should be shot for treason.
America has sold a great deal of what we used to make, to China.
Our companies are in bed with China.
We need to recognize, we have sold out, and need to think of America first.
Just saying. China has a massive population, and will only grow, and grow, and grow.
We need to start to build up our own nation.
Now.
On another topic there, the P-40 was a much better aircraft than most people really understand. It was extremely maneuverable. It only appeared not to be because it was usually compared to a Zero or Oscar with were extremely light and turned like nothing else on earth.
But a P-40 was far more maneuverable than a 109. It wasn’t such a hit in Europe where the battles occurred at much higher altitudes. Didn’t make sense to upgrade it for that when P-47s and P-51s were being built already.
But it was a nasty little surprise to anyone who tried to fight it at lower altitudes.
But that design from the 30s held up very well and fought till the last day of the war.
All this China-bashing reminds me of how the Russians viewed the Japanese back in 1900. No way could funny little Japan stand up to the mighty Russian Empire.
Then came the Russo-Japanese war of 1904. The Japanese decisively beat the Russians. Decisively.
Now, I'm not saying that the Chinese could beat the US today, or tomorrow. But in 20 years...
When you say build up, I’m not sure exactly where you’re headed?
Population, military capabilities, military equipment...
Personally, I think we need to find a way to get Caucasians to reproduce in large numbers. If we don’t, we will lose this nation to the Leftists faster than we can say, GOPe.
The minute anyone chose an energy fight, as did Chennault in China, Zeros always lost. The Zero had the run it did because of its range and the mentality early in the war that the angles fight was what fighter pilots should excel in.
They tried to turn with Zeros and died. When they were taught how to fight a Zero, they won.
What is truly sad, is that it is an unintended result of our otherwise civilian manufacturing being exported to China, which is I believe creating a more dangerous China.
China and America have a differing view of equality.
America sees equality as a good thing. Most everything we do, is focused on it, and it is a cornerstone of how we look at the world.
China by contrast is not focused on equality. To China, how you great someone is dependent upon your relative status.
Up until now, America’s relative status to China has been high. The has meant that China has behaved this way.
Americans have (incorrectly) presumed this means the Chinese are our buddies.
Now I am not saying the Chinese can’t be our buddies. In fact I think there are very real things we hold in common. But we will see as China increases in relative power, the behavior of the country will also change.
China has five times America’s population.
We need to take China much more seriously than we do, and we also need to compete with China.
Bring back manufacturing from China.
Stop sending our manufacturing there.
I’m serious.
America needs to build up our own nation.
And failed miserably in training replacements. One of the finest examples of better being the enemy of good enough.
thrust doesn’t looked vectored either. I wonder if that even flies or if it’s just a mock up for propaganda?
Bomber and fighter, I do not think so. If that were the case the F1-11 would have cleared the sky of North Vietnam and bombed them. It did not.
Fighters fight and bombers bomb. The do not do both effectively. A fighters mission is to get the crap out of the sky for the bombers. When you mix the mission you have an inferior fighter and an inferior bomber.
BUFFs will ruin your whole day after the fighters have cleared the way for them.
I’m just saying our own manufacturers, have moved in my opinion far too much “American” manufacturing to a nation with five times our population, and a government which still considers itself marxist.
Go in any store anymore. Pick up any item, turn it over, and look at where it was made.
I’m series.
America we need to make things, for ourselves.
Exactly.
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