China's J-20 Stealth Fighter now in service

[Skybird]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20..._136645789.htm

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...-20-who-225584

Perhaps the most compelling evidence that would point to the J-20 being optimized for the strike role is the fact that the airframe is enormous but has relatively small wings. It’s also seems to have huge weapons bays. While such a configuration works well for a fast supersonic strike aircraft, it’s not ideal for an air superiority fighter that needs be able to sustain high rates of turn.
(...)
there is a strong argument to be made that short-range tactical fighters like the F-22 and F-35 are ill-suited for operations in the Western Pacific where distances are vast and bases are scarce. The same geographic constraints also apply to the Chinese. That means that jets like the F-22 and F-35 need tankers to operate over those vast distances. The most logical way for the Chinese to tackle American and allied airpower is not to confront those forces head-on but rather by removing their ability to fight. That means going after U.S. bases, tankers and communications nodes. Thus in that sense, the J-20 could be China’s means to establish air superiority if viewed through that lens. In that sense it might have the upper hand against the F-22.

That is my argument against the hightech American force: its lethal dependency on stellar-sized logistics and sensory and comm networking. If I were an opponent, like that article above suggests I would not confront the American military giant head on, but go for the eyes and the soft underbelly, cut the aortas, and let them bleed out, so to speak. And indeed, what I never oiked about the F35, and the F22 as well: the short legs. Thats fine in America. Or Europe. But the distant pacific...???

[Falkirion]

Interesting thought, yes the F-22/35 don't have the range but there are a lot of assets you'd have to knock out to keep them grounded.

Would China be able to field enough J-20s to simultaneously attack Guam, Kadena and the 7th fleets carrier/s and support units?

[Skybird]

^ They must not, they already dramatically reduce operation ranges of US tankers by the threat of their mere presence. In that they are somewhat like submarines - the enemy must react already to the mere risk of a submarine operating in his vicinity, you cannot afford to test your luck. Even if there is no real submarine. The distances to be covered favor China for obvious reasons. - The balances are shifting further. Slowly but continuing. Already now I would predict that the US would not dare to declare real war on China anymore over any issue, say Taiwan. The outcome already now would be too uncertain, and own reserves and own willingness to suffer high losses are too small.

[Jimbuna]

Nothing about reliability and maintenance down time I notice.

[Skybird]

If I go with the article'S conclusions, I could very well imagine that these planes are not meant to be multi-use platforms, but are reserved for just limited number of "prime" missions and are considered to be expandable if they have scored their projected number of kills on high value assets - which to kill in the first they probably have been designed for. Think of them as manned stealth cruise missiles, maybe. And do not judge their use by standards and moral concepts popular in the West. We talk of a possible enemy with a very different cultural background who may or may have not shared according military ideals with Wetsenr armies in the past, but who has not undergone and followed cultural chnages that he West got hit by in recent years and decades. Its never just about the weapon, but always also about the mindset of its owner.

[Mr Quatro]

Can it land on an aircraft carrier?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

Can it land on an aircraft carrier?

If not, a bit of kamikaze training would suffice

[Platapus]

All aircraft can land on a carrier once.