Combat aircraft

Several reports indicate that the J-20A

took part in its  rst such exercise in

November 2016, during the ‘Red Sword

2016’, and recorded overwhelming

success against other PLAAF  ghters. The

next major events in 2017 were the

August 1 celebrations, honored with a

huge military parade on July 31. Six

J-20As took part, the serial numbers

‘78271’ to ‘78276’ con rming that these

aircraft are operational. Finally, on

September 28, the PLAAF con rmed this

fact. However, o cial con rmation by the

Ministry of Defense is most likely nothing

more than late recognition of the fact.

Something similar happened with the

J-10, which was operational from 2004

but only ‘con rmed’ as such in 2006. It

could also be interpreted that the opeval

phase has ended and some sort of IOC

reached — or at least that the current

J-20s have attained a certain

level of operational capacity beyond

simply being inducted. On the other

hand, IOC is a purely ‘Western’ notion,

while the PLAAF instead di erentiates

between ‘validation of design’ and

‘validation of production’.

In line with these reports, discussion

returned once again to the engine,

especially since several TV reports now

noted that the J-20 was already using a

Chinese engine. These contradicting

stories gained additional momentum on

September 3, when a blurred image was

posted on a forum showing a yellow-

painted LRIP J-20A during installation of a

WS-10 ‘Taihang’ derivative.

While the image is of poor quality,

it is clear enough to show the WS-10’s

characteristic inner structure — the

afterburner nozzle featuring a tell-

tale circle of small  aps and vanes for

controlling the exhaust  ow, in the inner

nozzle. This is a detail lacking from the

Russian AL-31. The exact variant remains

unknown but it seems to be one known

as the WS-10B (sometimes also WS-10G

or WS-10IPE), built by Shenyang Liming.

It delivers around 140-145kN thrust and,

for the  rst time, features serrated nozzle

feathers. The  rst clear image of this new

prototype, ‘2021’, during high-speed

taxi tests, was released on September

19. In the end it seems the controversial
    CCTV documentary aired in May 2017
    prematurely hinted at this J-20A variant,
    which allegedly entered construction in
    the  rst half of 2016.
    Furthermore, in early October 2016
    it was reported that the WS-15 had
    completed ground testing during
    August 2015. A thrust level of around
    160kN was attained, and the engine is
    allegedly ready to undergo tests on an
    Il-76LL. It seems as if the WS-15 won’t be
    ready for the J-20 until 2022-23 at the
    earliest. Consequently it makes sense
    to replace the Russian engine on the
    next batch of aircraft. However, it will be
    interesting to see how quickly the tests
    are concluded and whether this Taihang-
    powered variant — sometimes called
    the J-20A2 — will replace the current
    AL-31-powered production aircraft. If so,
    it would  nally end the PLAAF’s reliance
    on a foreign engine. Only when the  rst
    batch 01 — the ‘true’ serial J-20A —
    appears will we see if it features the new
    powerplant.

Above: J-20A

‘78275’ reveals

one of the

di erent

camou age

schemes noted

on the 176th

Brigade’s jets.

Below: A  rst

clear image

of prototype

‘2021’, with

indigenous

engines,

appeared in

September

2017, during the

aircraft’s initial

high-speed

taxi tests at

Chengdu.

J20 | FIGHTER FOCUS

59

January 2018 http://www.combataircraft.net

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