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| A combination image shows the US Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, left, and the Chinese J-20. Photos: Alamy, Dickson Lee. |
International Military - Expected to be more modern than the US F-15 EX purchased by Indonesia, quoted from 19fortyfive.com, the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon has stealth characteristics with a low radar cross section. The J-20 is an advanced fourth-generation (although some sources say it is fifth-generation) single-seat twin-engine fighter.
The J-20 fighter jets are not completely stealth and can be tracked by advanced radar but China produces them in “high numbers” of around 500 units. The range is extended by external fuel tanks, and is capable of flying at supersonic speeds at over 1,600 miles per hour. Although China continues to boast, South Korean media have accused the J-20 of being a counterfeit.
Initially, the South Korean media was amazed by the achievements of China's defense industry. However, the ulcers of the J-20 fighter jet were eventually dismantled. "China's military aircraft manufacturing technology is developing rapidly. Until the 1990s, it was a replica of the Russian fighter aircraft, but now it is the J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter, the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, the J-16D electronic warfare, The 'Chinese Global Hawk' WZ-7 high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, etc. It has reached the level of independent development of cutting-edge models," wrote Segye.com.
"China's aerospace industry has made great strides in decades. During the Cold War, it was faithful to the 'sky tactics' method of mass cloning of the former Soviet model," the South Korean media continued. Unfortunately, the display of the Chinese J-20 is apparently quite large. "The J-20 is very large in appearance, making it difficult to store on an aircraft carrier. You need a small aircraft with stealth capabilities. The FC-31 is smaller than the J-20, so it is considered a potential carrier for use," wrote Segye.com.
Not only the South Korean media, the weakness of the Chinese J-20 fighter jet apparently became the spotlight of the former Indian Chief of Staff. The former Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force who did not want to be named said the J-20 was just a fake stealth fighter jet.
According to him, the J-20 is not a real stealth fighter jet because it still uses a delta canard (small wing near the cockpit) like a cold war era fighter jet. "Responding to China's claim with, two simple questions, If the J-20, also called the Mighty Dragon, is indeed a fifth-generation stealth fighter, then why does it have a canard," said the former IAF chief as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
While the original 5th generation fighters such as the US F-22, F-35 and Russian fifth generation Su-57 do not have canards?" he added. He also wondered why the J-20 did not have Supercruise speed like other stealth fighter jets. "Why? The J-20 can't supercruise if it's really a 5th generation fighter," he said.
The J-20 Mighty Dragon is a fighter jet developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group Co Ltd under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The design on China's J-20 Mighty Dragon fighter jet is judged to resemble the US-made F-22 Raptor.
Not at all ashamed that even though the J-20's design is compared to the US F-22 to Russian aircraft, the Chinese stealth fighter jet apparently uses the same operational tactics as the American F-35. This is as quoted from the Eurasian Times, when a J-20 pilot named Chen Liu was recently interviewed by the Chinese state media, CCTV.
Chen Liu is considered one of the best fighter pilots of the PLA Air Force. Chen Liu is one of the few pilots to have flown the J-10, J-16 and J-20 fighter jets. In the interview, Chen Liu spoke about the J-20 fighter jet and his experience flying it with great pride. Chen Liu said the J-20's avionics were much simpler to operate than the J-10C and J-16 fighters.
Furthermore, Chen Liu said that the J-20 collects a large amount of data (something similar to the F-35) which is then processed before being passed on to the pilot. Chen Liu admitted that he had no problems when he first flew the J-20.
Chen Liu said the J-20 was difficult to master because of its sophisticated weapons system. The J-20's weapon system is very different from that of fourth-generation fighters such as the J-16 and J-10C.