Analysis of the Chengdu J-XX/J-20

Recent photos of China's new fifth-generation fighter, the Chengdu J-XX/J-20, has generated a lot of buzz in the air warfare blogosphere. The Air Power Australia blog has an excellent technical analysis of this new plane (seen in a 3D CGI rendering to the right).

I don't want to go off on a long political rant about the budget, taxes, the economy, etc., here, but it sure seems like the US should have a counter-capability, either in the form of more F-22's or, preferably, a jump to the sixth generation of air combat technology: land- and sea-based unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), preferably with low-observable/stealth technology and at least some capability for autonomous combat operations in case the command/data links are jammed. The F-35 is fine for smacking around Third World countries like Iran or North Korea, but a lot of smart analysts say that it will have trouble against modern systems from a near-peer competitor like China.

On the bright side, China has a lot to lose financially and economically if they go up against the US within the next few years. They are still heavily dependent on exports to the US and our allies and the opportunity to invalidate their massive holdings of US Government and commercial debt because we are at war with them would do wonders for our economy. A good friend of mine has suggested a great China policy, consisting of five simple words: "Screw you, we're not payin'!"

By: Guardian