China's F-22A Raptor Killer

[Tchocky]

From what I've seen of the J-20, It looks pretty slap-dash. The engine intakes and exhausts look fairly straightforward, and seeing as how even the now-retired F-14 could identify targets from compressor blade radar returns, I don't think the j-20 can be considered fully stealth.

That said, I think the real worry for the US going up against China in an air battle is the large and capable force of J-10 and J-11 that China is fielding.
F-22 is supreely capable, but few in number. And I can't help but see the F-35 as a straight-up disappointment.

Hardly a likely scenario to play out, mind. A Chinese housing bubble is something to properly worry about.

[the_tyrant]

you know, in China we even have a term for this
---20013;---22269;---23041;---32961;---35770;
it pretty much means "China threat theory"

every time china has an advance in military technology, western media always says it will "change the face of war" or something similar

no matter how ridiculously bad it is

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

From what I've seen of the J-20, It looks pretty slap-dash. The engine intakes and exhausts look fairly straightforward, and seeing as how even the now-retired F-14 could identify targets from compressor blade radar returns, I don't think the j-20 can be considered fully stealth.

Yes, but we do not know if the engines used so far are the final planned engines, or just a provisoric replacement because the real engine are not ready. I seem to re3member that there is a story like this with the Russian stealth plane, too.

And also, the Chinese must not stay with the design of prototypes. They can chnage it. I do not believe they are not aware how suspiciously unstealthy their engine intakes and outlets look. Or they found a solution to the problem you described. Different material, for example.

That said, I think the real worry for the US going up against China in an air battle is the large and capable force of J-10 and J-11 that China is fielding.
F-22 is supreely capable, but few in number. And I can't help but see the F-35 as a straight-up disappointment.

Agreed on all butg the F-35 whcih I must refuse to comment on, I read too little about it to allow myself an opinion.

[Growler]

China is replaying the standard Cold War scenario of quality v quantity, but with the inevitably unique Chinese twist.

If the J20 is (physically, as a product) 75% as effective as Raptor or F35, China needs simply to produce one more aircraft per each pair of American aircraft. (This statement is predicated on all technical factors only - airframe, avionics, weapons systems. It does NOT include pilot quality.) Production in China - well, look at American store shelves to see the results of production in China. A huge workforce under putatively Communist leadership mobilized for war is not something easily discounted.

If the Chinese pilots are half as good as their American counterparts, add another two or three J20s to the production queue for each pair of American aircraft. It's not as though they'll suffer a manpower shortage of willing pilots, and even poorly trained pilots can hurt you.

It's not as though America can bang out these aircraft like we did the Fortresses, Thunderbolts, and Mustangs of WW2 - we certainly would not enjoy the freedom to produce as much, as quickly, and as close to the coasts as we did; the oceans are no longer as effective a moat as they once were.

The main issue isn't quality so much as it is production, at least, how I see it.

[Onkel Neal]

Well said Sky.

Personally, I think we should cut the defense budget by 90% and let the Chinese provide our defense. That's what Obama did with our space program. But we better clear that with our Mexican overlords first.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Well said Sky.

Personally, I think we should cut the defense budget by 90% and let the Chinese provide our defense. That's what Obama did with our space program. But we better clear that with our Mexican overlords first.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Growler

...and even poorly trained pilots can hurt you.

Ever heard of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot? The US Navy's 10 to 1 air victory over the IJN.

Or what about Operation Peace for the Galilee? The IAF's 90 to 0 air victory over the Syrian Air Force.

Pilot quality is paramont. Poory trained pilots will do nothing but waste aircraft.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Ever heard of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot? The US Navy's 10 to 1 air victory over the IJN.
Or what about Operation Peace for the Galilee? The IAF's 90 to 0 air victory over the Syrian Air Force.
Pilot quality is paramont. Poory trained pilots will do nothing but waste aircraft.

Add to that what is called force multipliers*. One can have a superb system, but if it´s not integrated in a usefull net of other systems its efficiency is severely handicapped. IJN has almost none back then and Israeli denied Syrian´s the use of theirs while maximizing their own.


(*) - A capability that, when added to and employed by a combat force, significantly increases the combat potential of that force and thus enhances the probability of successful mission accomplishment.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Add to that what is called force multipliers*. One can have a superb system, but if it´s not integrated in a usefull net of other systems its efficiency is severely handicapped. IJN has almost none back then and Israeli denied Syrian´s the use of theirs while maximizing their own.


(*) - A capability that, when added to and employed by a combat force, significantly increases the combat potential of that force and thus enhances the probability of successful mission accomplishment.

You're preaching to the choir. Our military is so networked that just about every system is a force multiplier. All our weapon systems can both act independently and as a whole. The SSGN is a prime example, on its own it can unlease massive distruction on an enemy but as part of an overall strike force it can "knock down the door" for the fixed wing guys.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

You're preaching to the choir. Our military is so networked that just about every system is a force multiplier.

This is why US is the undisputable military mighty since the late 80s. Also, I kind of like Carlo Kopp but it must be clear he has an agenda: making US to sell, and Australia to buy, F-22s.

Besides, the chinese have a long way to go. Last time I checked they still couldn´t produce Su-27s engines with original standards. What to say of a 5th airplane?

[Growler]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Ever heard of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot? The US Navy's 10 to 1 air victory over the IJN.

Or what about Operation Peace for the Galilee? The IAF's 90 to 0 air victory over the Syrian Air Force.

Pilot quality is paramont. Poory trained pilots will do nothing but waste aircraft.

Did I say, "...even poorly trained pilots can beat you?" No. Poorly trained pilots can hurt you.

[Raptor1]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Ever heard of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot? The US Navy's 10 to 1 air victory over the IJN.

Or what about Operation Peace for the Galilee? The IAF's 90 to 0 air victory over the Syrian Air Force.

Pilot quality is paramont. Poory trained pilots will do nothing but waste aircraft.

Don't forget that besides having poorly trained pilots, the IJN and Syrian Air Force were also severely lacking in modern equipment during those engagements.

EDIT: Oh, and also in numbers, which is another critical factor.

[Skybird]

Technological quality more and more pushes back the need for human quality in war tech. Like it or not. Who can fire the missiles of higher reach and better sensors first, usually wins. Modern infrared A-A missiles are almost impossible to be intentionally evaded, for radar missiles he who shoots first forces the other into the defensive. While force multipliers like intel and AWACS are a factor, missile's legs obviously is a factor, too.

Modern Russian missiles have very long legs that outrun Western missiles.

Better technology can compensate numerical inferiority to a certain degree - and not beyond.

America never has confronted top modern Russian equipment and top trained Russian experts in combination. Beating less trained personnel of third world armies with B- and C-grade equipement of export quality, does not really tell you the ultimate truth about how it would end with the real enemy in place.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Modern Russian missiles have very long legs that outrun Western missiles.

This because russian doctrine, inherited from USSR times, calls for a huge SAM umbrella while NATO doctrine was centered in airplanes to achieve air superiority.

Better technology can compensate numerical inferiority to a certain degree - and not beyond.

Quantity has a quality all of its own.

America never has confronted top modern Russian equipment and top trained Russian experts in combination. Beating less trained personnel of third world armies with B- and C-grade equipement of export quality, does not really tell you the ultimate truth about how it would end with the real enemy in place.

Lets hope it stays this way....

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

This because russian doctrine, inherited from USSR times, calls for a huge SAM umbrella while NATO doctrine was centered in airplanes to achieve air superiority.

I thought about air-launched missiles and plane armament only anyway. If I were a pilot and wpuld have free choice, I am not sure that I would automatically pick for example AMRAAM´s for medium range missiles.