Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Pop Quiz: Anyone know what this is?


The Chinese characters may give it away, but if you're wondering, it's a 5th generation stealth fighter and it isn't the F-35 or F-22.

Of course, as most of you know, it's the Chinese J-20.  In fact, it is the second Chinese J-20, spotted for the first time yesterday (aircraft number 2002).

The point, of course, is the context that picture brings to this debate about whether or not the F-35 should be the aircraft of our future.  If that picture doesn't help put you in the "yes it is" side of the debate, I'm not sure what will.

The fact is the Chinese and the Russians are pursuing 5th generation stealth aircraft. There is no denying it. If they're all "Cold War relics" as many of the critics complain, or as one Senator likes to claim, "aircraft without a mission", one has to wonder if the Russians or Chinese agree.

The picture says "no".

@Graff48099375

1 comment:

  1. The J-20 is not an air superiority fighter, it is either a technology demonstrator, or a high speed bomber similar to the F-111. It's debatable whether it is a stealth aircraft at all, just take a look at those canards.

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