But, where does China's J-20 fifth-generation fighter jet fit in?!

Comment posted by "meteor" on Aviation Week's Ares blog ^ | December 30, 2010 at 9:15 PM CST | meteor

[EnjoyingLife]

Americans tend not to think outside the box, as was evidenced by our stunned reaction to 9-11. Imagine the following:

1. China tells the world they are going to "absorb" Taiwan peacefully, just as they did Hong Kong. The Taiwanese call on the USA for help.

2. The US federal budget is only 60% funded by internal revenue. The rest is covered by borrowing, much of it from China. China calls in the US debt. The US defaults, casting the US and world economies into chaos. Social Security, military payroll, etc, don't get paid out.

3. Cyber warfare of unknown origin takes out large portions of the US electrical grid and water supplies. The internet goes down, the stock market descends into chaos, airlines can't file flight plans.

4. US recce and comm satellites are hit by Chinese missiles.

5. Chinese special forces slip ashore onto Guam and Okinawa from passing freighters. They race across Andersen and Kadena AFBs throwing satchel charges at F-22s and E-3s and KC-10s. Aircraft arriving at those airfieds are hit by MANPADS from special forces in hiding.

6. Stealthy Chinese J-20s make a sweep across Taiwan and engage Taiwanese F-16s, destroying several, who never even see the J-20s.

7. The Chinese again announce that they are going to "absorb" Taiwan peacefully, just as they did Hong Kong.

The US faces a choice: Start a major war with China over Taiwan with significant damage to the Western world and an uncertain outcome, or gracefully find a way to let the Chinese do what they want without us losing too much face.

That's where the J-20 fits in.

[Source: A comment posted at "12/30/2010 9:15 PM CST" by "meteor" at http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3aa322c6f4-2c93-439d-8051-9e7eb24b5e38&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:114278de-19ae-440e-972f-ec2960663d43#CommentKey:114278de-19ae-440e-972f-ec2960663d43]

[delapaz]

Step 2 should read:

...China calls in US Debt. President Palin selectively defaults all chinese-held US bonds and imposes high tariff's on chinese produced goods. Chinese economy crashes. Chinese peasantry revolts. The Peoples Liberation Army doesn't get paid in anything but monopoly money. They refuse to cross the straits, Chinese Taiwan laughs and laughs and laughs.

Well maybe it won't work out exactly that way, but we have lots of cards and we hold the whip hand.

The question, as always, is one of will.

[SeeSharp]

China calls in the US debt.

China cannot "call in" US debt. The most they can do is dump US treasuries on the open market, which would raise the interest rate on new treasury issues raising the US government's cost of borrowing.

[Balding_Eagle]

Americans tend not to think outside the box, as was evidenced by our stunned reaction to 9-11.

What? Oh, yeah, we were suppposed to just go on with our day, as though nothing extraordinary happened.

Same crazy American reaction happened after Pearl Harbor.

[pnh102]

That’s the other side of the debt coin. While we make ourselves vulnerable to China by borrowing money from them, China continues to make itself even more vulnerable to us by depending on US consumers to purchase their manufacturing output. China would be foolish to do anything to sabotage that relationship, as no other country can purchase their exports the way we can.

[aegiscg47]

Let's re-evaluate this once the J-20 reaches the deployment stage. The Chinese have a bad history of development issues, problems with engines, pilot training, etc., so to proclaim this as some kind of "wonder weapon" is a little premature.

[RicocheT]

The scenario of Red China’s attack in the above article is very believable and I hope our military planners take such ideas in account in developing a war plan.

I do think Red China is willing to try such a move, despite needing our trade, as the Reds know they can win against a weak-willed administration such as we have with Obama. Plus, fools like Obama would concede the war with a promise to continue to open the US market to Chinese made goods. Too many of us in the USA want big LCD TVs at what we believe is a good price, not realize we are spending our children’s inheritance on junk.

[gandalftb]

Here is a line drawing:

There are lots of stealthy features to it. But it's effectiveness relies on the capability of its electronics, the Chinese have yet to compete with our AESA system and their air to air missiles are a bit primitive yet.

The key problem the Chinese have is a lack of AWACs type airborne, all weather, in flight, theater management systems.

The large internal bomb bays are indicative of more a fighter-bomber rather than interceptor. Todays use of such a platform would be for extended and persistent loitering over a battlefield to support ground operations.

[gandalftb]

BTW, Taiwan will have 4 AWACs type platforms in operation within 2 years, all weather, 24/7, the J-20 would be spotted. I strongly suspect the J-20 may be intended for sales to India, etc.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


Step 4-A-1 : While the Red Chinese anti-satellite missiles are being tracked by NORAD ... the U.S. military ramps-up to DEF-CON-2



Step 4-A-2 : The POTUS is notified and immediately authorizes a Nuclear Retalitory Launch against these targets ... upon the first U.S. satellite's (potential) destruction:

ALL Red Chinese Missile Battalions (tactical and strategic)

An EMP Burst above the Three Gorges Damn

ALL Red Chinese Naval and Airforce bases on the Pacific Coast and Sea of Japan



Step 4-A-3 : The first U.S. Satellite is a "confirmed" kill ...



Step 4-A-4 : All U.S. missiles called-out in Step 4-A-1 are immediately launched ...



Step 4-A-5 : The POTUS decides the "up the ante" with an EMP airburst over Being and Shanghai ...



Step 4-A-6 : It's now been 85 minutes since the first U.S. Satellite was destroyed by the Red Chinese ...

1) All Red Chinese space assets are destroyed

2) The Three Gorges Damn is a useless wall of concrete

3) Bejing and Shanghia civilians and factories are in the "stone age" after their EMP pulse attacks ...

4) ALL Red Chinese Air and Naval bases are destroyed ...



Step 4-A-7 : The U.S. Navy is given orders to sink "every" Red Chinese naval vessel, incluing ALL of their Attack and Missile submarines ...



Step 4-A-8 : The POTUS and Congress authorize an "Act of War" against the Red Chinese government ...



Step 4-A-9 : The U.S. "cancels" as War Reparations ALL financial debts to the (defeated) Red Chinese government owned-banks ....



.

[Tonytitan]

Everyone is assuming that the Chinese have squadrons of these ready to fly into combat. They have a technology demonstrator/proof-of-concept. Nothing more. Consider this:

1) It has yet to fly

2) It will break when it does. All Aircraft do in development.

3) They have NO experience operating stealth aircraft, let alone operating them in combat. The learning curve is steep. VERY steep. Even we can't keep our stealth planes at 80% combat readiness, and we've been doing this since the 80's.

4) All they have is a prototype. And a future hangar queen. They have none of the logistical support systems in place to turn this into an effective combat aircraft. We already have countermeasures in place. Stealth aircraft are not invisible to LADAR. Everyone needs to unclench.

[Daus]

The most they can do is dump US treasuries on the open market

Well, and stop buying our NEW debt we keep generating. Since we operate a ponzi scheme these days, the lack of new money would be problematic.

[cranked]

“Stealthy Chinese J-20s make a sweep across Taiwan and engage Taiwanese F-16s, destroying several, who never even see the J-20s.” — Here is a thought: PUT THE CRACK PIPE DOWN, kkthx!?

Given the design of those J-20 engine outlets, any decent satellite or thermal-equipped radar system will pick them up and knock the Chinese piece of garbage into any local trash can. Heetseekers FTW.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The J-20 being sold to India?? Are you talking about the same India which is targeted by scores of ballistic missiles and fighters in Tibet and Xinjiang?? Pakistan maybe.

The Chicoms have at least two different AEW/C systems which are ready for operation, if not already in service. One is already due to be delivered to Pakistan.

[sukhoi-30mki]

You ignore one fact. The Chinese try and keep on trying. The West has scaled back almost EVERY major defence programme since the Cold War. The F-22, Eurofighter, Seawolf class, Zumwalt class DDG (from 30 ships to 3) and several more. Even the F-35 is not safe.

[PIF]

Let’s re-evaluate this once the J-20 reaches the deployment stage.

—

Or even after it actually flies...

[PIF]

Line drawing -— interesting as this view shows entry into the cockpit in the conventional manner rather then the released photo which showed entry thru the front wheel well.

[PIF]

This scenario omits the Chinese use of their neutron bombs...

[BenKenobi]

Someone gets it.

Why do you think Hitler persued Autarky? He wanted to be self-sufficient in raw materials because he knew war meant he was cut off from his supplies.

All China can do is dump their treasury bonds. If no one buys them, then they are SOL.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "Step 2 should read: ...China calls in US Debt. President Palin selectively defaults all chinese-held US bonds"

I agree but default is the wrong word IMO. That's like saying the crime victim failed to pay the thief.

IMO here is the proper business approach.

United States Free Enterprise, INC.

INVOICE

Capital, Goods and Services stolen and extorted by the Peoples Republic of China
FDI, Intellectual Property, technology, know how . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 2,500,000,000,000.00

Payments received from the Peoples Republic of China . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,000,000,000,000.00
Amount due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,500,000,000,000.00

Your Treasury certificates are your payment receipts. Thank you. [End of invoice]

Yes, the U.S. dollar may suffer but Red China will have a revolution with about 100 million more unemployed citizens joining the tens of millions already giving the Communist Party headaches.