‘Fifth-generation’ projects
The undoubted star among China’s current
crop of fi ghters is the Chengdu J-20,
sometimes called the ‘Mighty Dragon’.
Originally known in the West as the XXJ
or J-XX and offi cially known in China as
Project 718, it was fi rst disclosed by the US
Offi ce of Naval Intelligence in 1997. It was
long known that both China’s major fi ghter
manufacturers were working on competing
advanced fi ghter designs. Then, in November
2009, PLAAF deputy commander General He
Weirong stated that China’s next-generation
fi ghter would fl y ‘soon’, with a projected
initial operating capability between 2017
and 2019. Almost a year later the type was
fi nally revealed — much earlier than Western
military analysts expected.
A fi rst fl ight was successfully performed on
January 11, 2011. Now, four years later, it is
clear that the project has transitioned from
the concept/demonstration phase (involving
the fi rst two demonstrator aircraft, numbered
‘2001’ and ‘2002’) to the pre-production
engineering phase. Aircraft ‘2002’ appeared
in May 2012, and in 2013 Chengdu began
weapons integration tests with both the new
PL-10 infra-red-guided short-range AAM on
a unique retractable side missile launch rail
and the new PL-15 long-range AAM. Before
the next aircraft was unveiled, ‘2002’ was
re-numbered as ‘2004’ and ‘2001’ had received
a new light gray paint scheme. Both jets are
now under test at the Chinese Flight Test
Establishment (CFTE).
Completion of the third prototype was
delayed until late 2013 and it emerged as
a radically modifi ed prototype featuring
‘major improvements’. 2014 was even more
successful, seeing the fi rst fl ights of four pre-
series prototypes: ‘2011’ on March 1, ‘2012’ on
July 26, ‘2013’ on November 29, and fi nally
‘2015’ on December 19. There is speculation
that ‘2016’ and ‘2017’ could appear by mid-
2015 to join the fl ight-testing.
In contrast to the fi rst two demonstrators,
the latest prototypes feature stealth coating,
a re-designed intake and vertical stabilizers,
a new canopy, an electro-optical targeting
system (EOTS) similar to that used by the
F-35, and a retractable refueling probe
concealed beneath a cover on the starboard
side of the cockpit. Not much is known about
the other systems. The new Type 1475 (KLJ-5)
fi re-control radar is expected to be an AESA
type under development by the 14th Institute.
It is under test on board a heavily modifi edThis photo: An underside view
of J-20 ‘2015’. The AL-31FN
turbofans are evident in this
view — these are planned to
be replaced by the eagerly
awaited WS-15 engines,
possibly in 2017.Below: J-20 number ‘2015’
was the last of four pre-series
prototypes to y in 2014,
making its maiden ight on
December 19.60 May 2015 http://www.combataircraft.net52-61 Chinese Fighters C.indd 60 20/03/2015 11:18