Chinese prowess displayed in J-20 aircraft: Analysts

Russian analysts believe that the public debut of the Chengdu J-20 ‘Black Eagle’, China’s fifth generation fighter aircraft, displays the country’s growing technological prowess. It should not be seen as a demonstration of force, as some media outlets have suggested.

“It's more of a showcase of technology. I think, it will take several years before this machine will be ready, but this does not minimize the achievements of Chinese designers,” Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies told RIR.

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Most of the technical characteristics of the plane, which made its first flight in January 2011, are mainly kept secret. All that is known at the moment is that stealth technology is being used to build the aircraft, which has air-to-air missiles and Russian engines. 

In addition to the heavy J-20, China is developing the Shenyang J-31, a light fifth generation fighter. According to specialists, these two aircraft do not have a specific foreign prototype.

Design features

The Chengdu J-20 has a canard arrangement with small forward horizontal wings, which control the aircraft.

This aeronautical arrangement is rarely used because it has a number of disadvantages. Canards tend to have a large nose cone that slows them down. Another disadvantage is lower manoeuverability.

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“Meanwhile, a canard allows more flexible positioning of the weapons system and can carry a greater fuel load,” Pavel Bulat from the ITMO University in St. Petersburg told RIR. “In addition, if the aircraft has to fight at supersonic speed (1188 kilometers/hour), this design is very effective.”

Russian engine

The main challenge for the Chengdu J-20 may be the development of engines, since China has not yet been able to produce engines for a fifth generation fighter. 

A source in the Russian defence industry told RIR that China has purchased around 200 AL-31 engines for the J-20. 

"Apparently, the Chengdu J-20 flew on November 1 with Chinese motors that are based on the Russian AL-31,” Bulat told RIR. “Russian engines are likely to be used for the J-20 when serial production is launched.” 

He said the Russian fifth generation fighter T-50 uses the same type of engines as the 4++ generation Su-34.

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