Chinese developments
Sometimes claimed to be the third fifth-
generation stealth fighter to enter service
(after the F-22 and F-35) China’s J-20 made
its maiden flight on January 11, 2011, and
entered limited service in September last
year, though development is continuing.
Of broadly similar size, weight and wing area
to the F-22, but of canard-delta configuration,
the J-20 is probably less agile and less stealthy
than the Raptor but carries significantly
more fuel. Underpowered in its present form,
the J-20 is also unable to supercruise.
The aircraft is equipped with an advanced
Type 1475 (KLJ-5) active electronically scanned
array (AESA) radar, an EORD-31 infrared
search and track system, and internal electro-
optical targeting and distributed aperture
systems similar to those fitted to the F-35.
It’s reportedly intended as a long-range air
superiority aircraft, armed with BVR and perhaps
dedicated ‘AWACS-killer’ missiles. Western
sources credit the J-20 with a 1,200nm range,
sufficient to project power at huge distances
from the Chinese mainland. The aircraft may also
have a secondary precision strike capability.
China is developing a second stealth fighter
in the shape of the Shenyang FC-31, a smaller
aircraft than the J-20, and one that is of similar
appearance, size and performance to the F-35.
The aircraft is reportedly aimed primarily at the
export market, although Shenyang hopes to
sell the type to the People’s Liberation Army
Air Force as the J-31, and perhaps to the PLA
Naval Air Force as a carrier-borne fighter.
The FC-31 is still in development, and seems
to have undergone a major redesign, with the
second prototype differing markedly from the
first, with revised swept tailfins (like those of
the F-35) replacing the F-22-type trapezoidal
fins, with greater wing area, cropped wing
and tailplane tips, a larger weapons bay,
and (later) a single-piece cockpit canopy.
It has been widely suspected that the
J-31 was designed using technology from
the F-22 and F-35 obtained through cyber
espionage. It cannot be assumed that China
will necessarily be capable of achieving the
very close manufacturing tolerances necessary
for true low observability, nor whether China
will manage to attain high levels of sensor
fusion, though it would be a mistake to
underestimate China’s software proficiency.The first FC-31 prototype made its maiden
flight on October 30 or 31, 2012, and the revised
second prototype followed on December 23,- Production will be dependent upon finding a
launch customer but could begin within two years.
Asia Pacific and beyond
A number of other nations are also working
on new advanced fighters, in an effort
to counter a growing and unpredictable
threat, and in order not to be ‘left behind’
by US technological progress.
In India, the Indian Air Force, the Aeronautical
Development Agency, the Defence Research
and Development Organisation and HAL are
working on the Advanced Medium Combat
Aircraft (AMCA) – a twin-engined, single-seat fifth-
generation tactical fighter intended to replace
the Jaguar and Mirage 2000, largely using new
indigenous systems. Approval to begin the design
and development stage is reportedly imminent,
with a provisional first flight scheduled for 2025.
Japan has flown an advanced fighter
technology demonstrator, the Mitsubishi X-2
Shinshin (formerly known as the ATD-X or
Advanced Technology Demonstrator – X),
but may not proceed further with work on
an indigenous or co-developed production
ATD (also known as the F-3). Instead Japan
may opt for a fighter based on an existing
in-service type (having reportedly requesteddetails of an F-22/F-35 hybrid, and of a
Eurofighter Typhoon-based new fighter) or may
simply buy an imported advanced fighter.
The Korea Aerospace Industries/Indonesian
Aerospace KF-X is a joint South Korean and
Indonesian advanced fighter programme.
It is planned to produce a multi-role fighter
for both countries and for export. Much
delayed, the KF-X (provisionally designated
F-33) is intended to have better kinematic
performance than an F-16C, a made-in-
Korea AESA radar, and RCS equivalent to the
Typhoon but with block upgrades planned
to further reduce the radar signature.
Turkey’s indigenous TF-X is envisaged as a
replacement for the F-16 in Turkish Air Force
service. A four-year preliminary design contract
was formalised between Turkish Aerospace
Industries (TAI) and the Turkish government
on August 5, 2016, and BAE Systems and
TAI signed an agreement in January last year.
This provided for the British company to give
engineering assistance in developing the
aircraft. Three alternative configurations have
been proposed for the TF-X including single-
and twin-engined versions of the classic
F-22/F-35 configuration with twin tails and
tailplanes, and a more agile single-engined
design with canard foreplanes. The twin-
engined configuration seems to be the leading
contender. TAI hopes to fly the prototype in 2023.
The AMCA, KF-X and TF-X are all twin-
finned low-observable aircraft of broadly
similar configuration to the F-22/F-35. All
feature the same kind of ‘stealth features’ with
canted twin tails, internal weapons carriage,
fuselage shaping and edge alignment.
The new designs are longer and sleeker
than either the Raptor or the Lightning II.
Their slimmer proportions could indicate a
greater emphasis on high-speed performance
and supercruise. These new entrants also
have bigger wings than the F-35, and their
greater wing area could indicate a lower wing
loading (and thus a higher degree of agility).Blue-sky thinking
While others are struggling to counter,
‘catch up’ or compete with the F-22
and F-35, some nations are looking
further ahead and are aiming to develop
even more advanced aircraft.Beyond the fifth generation
66 // DECEMBER 2018 #369 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comAn official KAI study for the KF-X. Earlier this year, photos of the KF-X design showed the jet armed with
European-made Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles and short-range IRIS-Ts. DAPAAbove: Three different studies for Turkey’s TF-X,
including single- and twin-engined configurations.
By 2023 Ankara hopes to have a flying prototype
for this F-16 replacement. TA I