China’s Maturing Fighter Force

Strategycenter.net ^ | October 15th, 2011 | Richard Fisher, Jr.

[sukhoi-30mki]

China’s Maturing Fighter Force

by Richard Fisher, Jr.

Published on October 15th, 2011

REPORTS

Introduction

Following an intensive twenty year investment, which has included obtaining significant foreign help, the air forces of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have reached a number of milestones that point to the likelihood of an accelerating growth in capability through this decade. Perhaps one of the most jarring indicators of this rapid maturation is that within five years of the reported retiring of its last 2nd generation fighter unit of Shenyang J-6s in 2005, the PLA started testing prototypes of its 5th generation Chengdu “J-20” in 2010.[1] Furthermore, less than a decade following the 2004 service entry of the “indigenous” 4th generation Chengdu J-10 fighter, a new 4+ generation variant called the “J-10B” is expected to enter production in late 2011 or 2012. It has taken the PLA roughly 20 years to leap from production of third generation fighters to testing of its 5th generation fighter, whereas this process took 30 years for the United States.[2]

Source: Chengdu J-10B: This fighter combines all of China’s recent combat aviation milestones: indigenous design, indigenous advanced radar, new indigenous weapons and a new indigenous turbofan engine. Source: Chinese Internet

[sukhoi-30mki]

Exhaustive Report

[Mr Ramsbotham]

It has taken the PLA roughly 20 years to leap from production of third generation fighters to testing of its 5th generation fighter, whereas this process took 30 years for the United States.

They used to say that about the Soviet Union, not bothering to add that the technology wasn't developed internally, but stolen from the West.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

The difference being, for the Soviet program we did not voluntarily transfer all the necessary jobs, factories and funding...

We are building our own next enemy, seemingly as fast as possible.

America is committing national suicide via “free trade”.

[Tonytitan]

When the Chinese develop and deploy an operational fighter jet engine that actually works instead of having to beg/steal the AL-31 Saturn engine from Russia, wake me up.

[DJ MacWoW]

Are You A Whining FReeper?

Got A Gripe So You Won't Donate?

Click The Pic

Isn't That Like Setting Fire To Your Own Home?

When FR Is Gone, Where Will You Go Then?

[hattend]

It has taken the PLA roughly 20 years to leap from production of third generation fighters to testing of its 5th generation fighter, whereas this process took 30 years for the United States.[2]

Well, that is the difference from having to do original R&D by yourself and having some politician or industry spy give you the R&D.

[PreciousLiberty]

Here's a section I agree with 100%:

For example, it is increasingly clear that the 2008 decision to end production of the F-22A absent a superior replacement was profoundly ill advised. A force of 186 F-22s, meaning a deployable force of about 120, will be insufficient to deter much less prevail in a conflict with China over Taiwan. The refusal to sell a version of the F-22 to Japan means this key U.S. ally, which traditionally has had access to top-of-the-line U.S. weapons, will lack a 5th generation fighter sufficiently capable of deterring China’s emerging 5th generation fighters.

I remain hopeful that the F-22 assembly lines can start rolling again when the Cain administration takes over in 2013.

F-22 exports to Japan and Australia would be an economic boost, and would also provide a counter to China's growing airpower. The F-35 doesn't hold a candle to the F-22 when it comes to air combat.

[SoJoCo]

This fighter combines all of China’s recent combat aviation milestones: indigenous design, indigenous advanced radar, new indigenous weapons and a new indigenous turbofan engine.

All stolen from external sources.