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| J-20 Fifth Generation Air Superiority Fighters |
International Military - China is increasingly independent in terms of defense, especially when it comes to technology. This can be seen from the country's ability to build a 5th generation fighter jet, the J-20 Mighty Dragon. Not only that, the J-20 Mighty Dragon is often juxtaposed with leading fighter jets, such as the F-35.
This is because there are not many 5th generation fighter jets that are actually operational in the world. The 5th generation fighter jets that already exist are the F-35 Lighting II, F-22 Raptor, J-20 Mighty Dragon, and Su-57. Reporting from 19fortyfive.com, the 5th generation fighter combines a low-observable design with advanced data fusion avionics to offer incredible new capabilities.
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To qualify for this elite warrior fraternity, a jet must meet these (generally accepted) criteria:
- Stealth technology
- High degree of maneuverability
- Advanced avionics system
- Multi-role capability
- Networking or data fusion capabilities
This makes the technology industry in China then be questioned, how effective are the jets made in the world? The J-20 entered service in 2017 and has seen considerable production since. There are already more than 150 airframes now in service.
However, China has struggled to field its 5th generation engine, the WS-15. Instead, it equips its fleet with Russian-sourced 4th generation AL-31 engines or domestic equivalent engines upgraded in the WS-10.
The early J-20s did not include thrust vector control, but newer iterations have added the capability in an attempt to close with the American F-22 Raptor. It is known, at this time the J-20 Mighty Dragon may not have been exported.
However, there are plenty of other Chinese jets touring internationally. As is known, China has the J-7 fighter jet, with an export version called the F-7. According to the Eurasian Times, China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) designs and manufactures the J-7 single-engine light fighter.
The J-7 or F-7 was designed primarily to serve the needs of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). In March 1961, Russia and China reached an agreement to transfer MiG-21 technology. However, due to deteriorating relations between Beijing and Moscow at the time, technical documentation was not sent to the Shenyang Aircraft Factory.
Eventually, the company was able to manufacture its own engineered version of the MiG-21. The Chinese-made MiG-21 was first known as the Type 62 when it was developed in March 1964. It was later renamed the J-7 (Jian-7).
The airframe of the J-7 was evaluated in November 1965, and the aircraft made its maiden flight in January 1966. The Chinese military approved the J-7 as an operational aircraft in June 1967. The J-7 was developed into more than a dozen variations over the course of 48 years of production.
In 2013, the company halted production after delivering the remaining 16 F-7BGIs to Bangladesh. According to some estimates, more than 2,400 aircraft models have been produced.
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