New Chinese Stealth fighter

[:| Hi]

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/05/j-20-stealth-fighter-jet-5-facts-about-chinas-new-stealth-plan/

Any speculation? The plane design looks nice, but its yet to be in the air...

[Chariot]

Looks like another cold war is a brewin'

[Thorondor123]

Looks like another cold war is a brewin'

I'm all for it if it rapidly boosts space technology. Last time was a success.

[Nerdsturm]

The US has had stealth aircraft for about 30 years now, including 20 years of active service. I'm surprised that it has taken this long for other nations to begin developing their own stealth aircraft, and there's no telling how advanced these fighters actually are. For all that has been released, this and the T-50 could be no more stealthy than an F-117.

[Ciupita]

The US has had stealth aircraft for about 30 years now, including 20 years of active service. I'm surprised that it has taken this long for other nations to begin developing their own stealth aircraft, and there's no telling how advanced these fighters actually are. For all that has been released, this and the T-50 could be no more stealthy than an F-117.

they are so expensive to build...

[Lightning]

Looks like another cold war is a brewin'

I'm all for it if it rapidly boosts space technology. Last time was a success.

Last one on Mars is a stinkin' communist!

[DLFReporter]

Stealth technology isn't that hard to master. It's been round since shortly after the introduction of Radar Towers. One of the earliest stealth aircraft was the Horten Ho 229 flying wing
And that's ooold. Anyhow, drones and UAVs are the future. Manned combat flight is dying off.

[SirGutz]

Chinese tradition of copy looks like a F22 Raptor 

[Kading]

Stealth technology isn't that hard to master. It's been round since shortly after the introduction of Radar Towers. One of the earliest stealth aircraft was the Horten Ho 229 flying wing
And that's ooold. Anyhow, drones and UAVs are the future. Manned combat flight is dying off.

But flying wings weren't developed as stealth aircraft. It just happened that radar had a very hard time picking them up. The unusual shape of flying wings is to improve the lift to weight ratio so much longer ranges can be achieved along with greater bomb load. The fact that they are hard to see on a radar screen is just a side bonus.

IIRC
Wooden aircraft do not show up on radar very well (see Mosquito).

That being said, true stealth has been around for some years even outside the US. Chinese are a bunch of Johnny-come-latelys as usual. Mockery aside, if it works, it works. Looks pretty sleek too.

[DLFReporter]

Aye the horton wasn't built as stealth fighter but I just wanted to point it out.
Lemme at some patriotism as german aerospace engineer. ^^

[Invincible]

Follow the tread on Militairyphotos.net  .. I'm not sure. I believe its going to be a flying model, but I don't think its specifics are going to be that great. more like a first test on 5the generation fighters for china..

[Chariot]

Looks like another cold war is a brewin'

I'm all for it if it rapidly boosts space technology. Last time was a success.

Not right now. Apparently the US space program has been put on hold until about 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_space_policy_speech_at_Kennedy_Space_Center

[Zoologic]

That is a shame, after apparently failing to locate valuable minerals in outer space they just shut it down. Come on, there is more onto it than just money. BTW, less did we know about deep ocean than the outer space.

Apparently I kinda feel mixed about Chinese aircraft.

Look at this COMAC ARJ21 cockpit:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/COMAC---Commercial/COMAC-ARJ21-700-Xiangfeng/1676483/L/

Embraer E-170 cockpit:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Finnair/Embraer-ERJ-170-100STD/1463817/L/

Yeah, notice the striking similarities. They are kinda combining the yoke and Embraer cockpit.

On the other hand, the outside looks resemble MD-80 fuselage and tail wing (probable because Boeing left McDonnell Douglas facility in Shanghai), Tupolev Tu-334 wing (they consulted with Tupolev's engineer),

Well, in addition (this is nothing to do with the rest), they use GE CF-34 engines (the same used by Embraer E-jets and Bombardier Canadair CRJ). I don't know if US has become friendly with them, but this engine is the civilian derivative of the engine that powers the fearsome A-10 Thunderbolt (warthog) that carries the uber GAU-8 30 mm anti-material Gatling gun.

All-in-all, no one thought PRC would attack US or any of its allies, other than they not yet ruling out military action for Taiwan dispute. IMO, this new jet fighter would in no way, pose any threat to US or its allies.

[von.small]

Isn't the US beyond stealth now anyway realising that unmanned arial drones are not only billions of dollars cheaper, but have zero loss of life ... for the US.

[Lightning]

Loss of life is only an important factor in a democracy with free speech and an independent media. Not really a problem for China.