Zephyr Net

First disclosed by US Office of Naval Intellegence (ONI) in 1997 as XXJ, J-20 (?) is a 4th generation fighter to enter the service around 2015. Since 90s both CAC/611 Institute and SAC/601 Institute had been working their own designs for a twin-engine multi-role heavy fighter with enhanced stealth capability and maneuverability comparable to American F-22. It was speculated that 601 Institute was working on a "tri-plane" design based on canard/conventional layout/V-shape tailfin while 611 Institute working on a design based on canard/tailless delta wing/all moving V-shape tailfin/side DSI/bump inlet layout. All designs were expected to feature an internal weapon bay to reduce RCS. It was also rumored initially that J-20 could be powered by two 13,200kg/WS-10 class "high thrust" turbofan engines with TVC nozzles which would result in a normal TO weight exceeding 20t. J-20 may also incoporate an advanced FBW system integrated with the fire-control and the engines. Its fire-control radar is expected to be AESA (Type 1475/KLJ5?) and the aircraft may feature an IRST/LR. Many of its subsystems are being tested onboard J-10B (see above). Russian assistance has been speculated in terms of softwore support for calculating the RCS of various designs, as well as supply of Salyut 99M2 turbofan engine (14,000kg class) to power the prototypes, if the domestic engine (such as improved WS-10A) fails to meet the schedule. The overall performance of J-20 is thought to be superior to EF-2000 and Rafale (stealth & agility) but still inferior to F-22 (electronics & supercruise). It was reported in November 2006 that a T/W=10 17,000kg class turbofan (WS-15/"large thrust") is being developed for J-20. In August 2008 it was reported that 611 Institute was selected to be the main contractor for the development of J-20 and 601 Institute as the sub-contractor. It was rumored that 611 Institute has started to issue manufacturing drawings for constructing the first prototype, which is expected to fly by 2012, even though the full configuration one won't fly until a few years later. The latest rumor suggested that a full-scale mock-up has been built at CAC.
- Last Updated 1/28/10