China ahead of schedule on fifth-generation answer to discontinued F-22

East-Asia-Intel.com ^ | 5/26/2010 | East-Asia-Intel.com

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

A senior U.S. military intelligence official confirmed that China will be capable of deploying an advanced fifth generation fighter comparable to the U.S. F-22 within eight years, years ahead of previous Pentagon assessments.

“We're anticipating China to have a fifth-generation fighter ... operational right around 2018," said Wayne Ulman of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. He made the comments before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on May 20.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, in defending his decision to end production of the F-22, stated last year that China "is projected to have no fifth-generation aircraft by 2020."

Such advanced fighter bombers are cutting edge weapons that provide asymmetric warfare capabilities such as advanced propulsion, radar invisibility and high-speed maneuverability.

The comments by Ulman contradicted an assessment by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates who stated last year that China "is projected to have no fifth-generation aircraft by 2020" and only a "handful" by 2025. Gates made the comments in defending his decision to end production of the F-22 at 187 aircraft as part of his budget-cutting initiative.

Chinese Gen. He Weirong, the deputy commander of the Chinese Air Force, told Chinese state-run media in November that the new advanced jet would fly soon despite U.S. intelligence projections that it will not be ready for combat for at least 10 years.

“The capabilities of China’s air forces, particularly those of the PLAAF have improved dramatically over the course of the past decade,” said Ulman, a senior China analyst at NASIC. “From an overly-large, technologically inferior force, the PLAAF is emerging as a well-equipped and increasingly well-trained force with some identifiable shortcomings and weaknesses.”

China’s Air Force has grown in size and sophistication with advanced surface-to-air missiles and radar and new offensive-oriented missions.

[Army Air Corps]

“We don’t need no new-fangled fighters” ping.

[Polybius]

How could a few thousand white Europeans, from the 16th Century to the early 20th Century dominate the Americas, Africa and much of Asia?

By having far superior weaponry, not by having white skin.

There is a lesson there.

[mcshot]

This is so upsetting. I know the Raptors are expensive but owning the sky is essential. These libs, Gates included, want to be part of another gubmint via casualty of war.

[Steve Van Doorn]

When are we gong to wake up?
When Red Dawn becomes a reality?

[Secret Agent Man]

IT still won’t be enough for them to beat us. It will still be a plane made in China. Hell it will still have melamine and lead issues, I’m sure.

[Steve Van Doorn]

expensive? they are not really that expensive. The new 747 cost more.
We could of bought 75,000 F-22 at the 'high price' with the amount we spent last year in new money alone (including what the feds dumped into the dollar not including what the world dumped into the dollar.)

[Pontiac]

China will be capable of deploying an advanced fifth generation fighter comparable to the U.S. F-22 within eight years, years ahead of previous Pentagon assessments.

I guess we need to start looking for Chinese spies in the F22 development team.

[Jet Jaguar]

Bump

[Frantzie]

There is a mu*lim in the white hut. Blam idiots who watch TV because the 5 TV Networks own 95% of the channels and they back Obama 100% including Fox-Saudi News.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[TwelveOfTwenty]

This is looking more and more like the Carter years. We were hearing the same about the Soviet's Backfire bomber in the late 70's.

Here's to hoping we have at least one more Reagan Recovery in us.

[Frantzie]

Beat us? We beat ourselves - look at the white hut. The idiot serfs are happy with NCAA college ball on TV. They all have corn cobs.... Idiots.

Meanwhile the cowardly top brass in the Pentagon sell out our troops.

Welcom to Obama-America.

[Gabrial]

Letting the Chinese leapfrog us in the technology will bring very bad things down the road.

[Clintonfatigued]

Thanks, Bill Clinton./heavy sarcasm

[rbosque]

The Chicoms own our debt, why not give them the skies too Obama!

[GraceG]

When the current admin is done they will buy us all giant foam hands with two fingers up with “We’re #2” on them.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks sonofstrangelove.

"There's only one possible response -- *cancel* the F-22 program now, before we waste more money on it!"

[DoughtyOne]

We need more F-22s. There’s no doubt about that in my mind. I don’t think China’s verson will be nearly as good as ours, but... who really knows.

You don’t wait until the enemy has caught up to you or has passed you to take action.

We need to take Congress back this November, then fully fund another four to five hundred F-22s.

You don’t deter the enemy, by convincing him you are giving up.

[GraceG]

“This is looking more and more like the Carter years. We were hearing the same about the Soviet’s Backfire bomber in the late 70’s.
Here’s to hoping we have at least one more Reagan Recovery in us. “

Yes, but the Chinese are craftier in their econmic approach than the sluggish Russian economy.