Can the Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon Help Our Air Power?
Until such time as the TF-23 Kaan is commissioned and our airpower is able to assume the role of the main combat fighter jet, the EF Typhoon, the French Dassault Rafale, the Russian SU-35, SU-57 and the French Dassault Rafale are being considered to support our F-16s, or so is the public opinion. Could the J-20 Mighty Dragon make a contribution to us, assuming that some Chinese jet fighters may also be under consideration, even though their technology and logistic support system are completely foreign to us?
Jet fighters are the backbone of airpower, with other defensive, offensive and logistical aircraft and systems supporting the center of gravity of jet fighter airpower. In recent years, successive setbacks and injustices have led to the erosion of our highly effective and self-sufficient air power. Our unjust exclusion from the partnership of the F-35 Stealth (Radar Invisible) aircraft after years of hard work and financial support, the continuous delays in the procurement of some new F-16Vs and modernization kits that will upgrade a significant amount of our F-16s to the F-16V variant, and the continuous modernization and reinforcement of the air forces of Greece, our most serious air power threat in the region, motivate Turkey to examine and evaluate various alternatives, and perhaps to proceed to the procurement phase.
In the selection of jet fighter aircraft, the procurement and maintenance of which impose a heavy economic burden on the state, the search for a solution that will provide the optimum benefit imposes a serious responsibility and burden on decision-makers.
In particular, until the MMU TF-X is in the service of the Turkish Air Force with an effective number of aircraft, it is of utmost importance and priority to reinforce our air force with Eurofighter Typhoon or similar aircraft. In this context, it is obvious that the next decade will be very difficult (For detailed information, see Ref.-1).
Until the time when the MMU TF-X will be commissioned and our air force will assume the role of the main combat fighter jet, EF Typhoon, French Dassault Rafale, Russian SU-35, SU-57, French Dassault Rafale, Russian SU-35, SU-57 are being considered to support our F-16s, or this is the public opinion. Although its technology and logistic support system are completely foreign to us, with the assumption that some Chinese jet fighters may also be under consideration, could the J-20 Mighty Dragon make a contribution to us? I wanted to examine and evaluate the subject.
The Mighty Dragon is a rather mysterious aircraft!
There was a long period when China only bought Russian jets or built licensed versions of them, and to some extent, they still use Russian aircraft to that extent. Recently, however, China has managed to build up its own fleet of high-performance fighter jets as it tries to rival the West and break free from Russian dependence. One of the most incredible of these jet fighters is the Chengdu J-20. Dubbed the Mighty Dragon, it was first flown and developed more than a decade ago and entered service with the Chinese Air Force in 2017. It is the world's third operational fifth-generation stealth fighter and the fastest aircraft in service with the Chinese air force.
Development of the Mighty Dragon
While the Mighty Dragon first flew in the 21st century, the origins of the aircraft can be traced back to the J-XX program of the late 1990s. This was a series of programs created to develop China's own fifth-generation fighter aircraft, culminating in the Shenyang FC-31 and eventually the J-20 Mighty Dragon itself. The J-20 would use technology from previous Chinese aircraft, such as the twin-wing design of their own J-10, an aircraft that has been in service in China since 2005.
The J-20 was originally due to start flying in 2010 or 2011, with entry into service initially set for 2019. This first flight date estimate was very accurate, with the J-20 making its first flight in March 2011. During the test and development program, the aircraft underwent several changes, such as a new stealth air intake and stealth fairing. It is of course difficult to get accurate information from China, but the aircraft entered production in 2015.
A Mysterious but Capable-looking Jet Fighter
The J-20 is undoubtedly one of the most impressive combat aircraft currently in active service. Its power comes from two Shenyang WS-10C afterburning turbo fans, which propel the aircraft to a top speed of Mach 2.0. Estimates of the jet's true top speed put it at around 2,100 km/h, which would make the J-20 a Mach 2 jet.
The J-20 is a very powerful aircraft, but the western world is confused about its design intentions; it is not clear whether it will be a multi-role F-35 or a pure air superiority aircraft like the F-22 Raptor. Judging by its speed and the air-to-air missiles it is seen to carry in the pictures, it is obvious that the J-20 will be assigned more air superiority missions and that this feature is more important. As a matter of fact, there are also rumors that it has embarked on many air-interception missions in the Asia Pacific.
It can be said that stealth capabilities are at least a mixture of some features of the F-35 and F-22. The fuselage, engine intake and exhaust nozzle are very similar to those of American jets. As for the engines, it should be noted that the WS-10C engine currently powering the J-20 is far behind the F-35's F135-PW-600 engine and cannot be compared to it. According to open source information, China is developing a new WS-15 engine that will allow the aircraft to have super cruise capability and will bring its engine technology more in line with that of Western fighter jets. However, there is high skepticism in the industry that China will be able to design and build its own jet engine, and in particular the materials for it, without yet receiving technology support from Russia. China is not yet considered to be among the countries capable of designing and manufacturing a fully independent jet engine (see Ref.-2 for detailed information).
The J-20; A Threat to the Western Stealth Aircraft F-22 and F-35, even the SU-57
We don't know much about the J-20, but we do know that it is fast, agile and stealthy. It has capabilities to rival western jet fighters, from the F-22 to the Eurofighter Typhoon. It seems that perhaps China no longer trusts Russian technology and does not want to be dependent on it. They are applying everything they have learned from using Russian jets and producing them under license to build their own high-performance aircraft that could be more powerful than the problematic Sukhoi Su-57 that Russia is now trying to bring into service.
A Look at the Future of Chinese Air Power
The J-20 is a truly incredible design for China. Its long, blended fuselage, double canards and other design features mean that it stands out and looks every bit the Mighty Dragon it has been given. Like other fifth-generation fighter stealth aircraft, it has a formidable weapons bay embedded in the fuselage and is a highly agile/maneuverable machine. The Western world is certainly watching the J-20 to see how powerful it is and will be. It can match many performance characteristics of fourth generation fighters such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-15 Eagle. In comparison with the F-22, it is not difficult to say that it will lose even on paper. Nor can it be compared to the F-35, especially in terms of engine performance, but China has certainly built an impressive jet fighter.
Variants of the J-20:
The J-20A is the first production variant of the J-20 platform.
Flight tests began in late 2010 with prototypes, with the first flight in 2011. The variant entered mass production in October 2017. The J-20A was incorporated into training units of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in March 2017 and into combat units in February 2018.
J-20B; J-20 variant upgraded with thrust vectoring control (TVC) engines.
The variant entered production on July 8, 2020. The first batch received Shenyang WS-10B-3 TVC engines, while the intended power unit was the WS-10B-15 with thrust vectoring, super cruise capability.
J-20S Double Seater Variant
The twin-seat variant of the J-20, designated J-20S, J-20AS or J-20B, is a version of the J-20 under development. The J-20S was first spotted in October 2021. The twin-seat design allows the second operator to conduct airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) missions.
General Characteristics of the J-20:
Empty weight: 17,000 kg (37,479 lb)
Gross weight: 25,000 kg (55,116 lb)
Maximum take-off weight: 37,000 kg (81,571 lb)
Fuel capacity: 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) internal
Engine: 2 × Shenyang WS-10C afterburning turbofan, 142-147 kN (32,000-33,000 lbf)
Maximum speed Mach 2.0
Range: 5,500 km (3,400 mi, 3,000 nmi), with 2 external fuel tanks
Operational radius: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)
Service ceiling 20,000 m (66,000 ft)
G limits +9/-3
Weapon/ammunition capacity
Maximum weapon capacity: 11,000 kg (24,000 lb)
Avionics
Type 1475 (KLJ-5) AESA Radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar)
EOTS-86 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS)
Can the J-20 be used in the Turkish Air Force?
1. In terms of Pilotage
After our pilots receive orientation training, they can easily operate the J-20. Orientation to the aircraft is not a problem. However, all technical and tactical documentation and avionic signals must be in English.
2. Aircraft Maintenance:
It is difficult, but the Air Force's aircraft maintenance knowledge and experience is very deep-rooted. Following aircraft familiarization and certification training, our aircraft maintainers will be able to effectively perform line, base and factory level maintenance of this aircraft. However, all technical documentation must be in English.
3. In terms of Lifetime Logistic Support:
This is a difficult, very difficult, most difficult phase.
In particular, it would not be very reasonable, logical and pragmatic to buy a system from a country that is not an ally of ours, has limited experience in the design and production of air systems, has no other air force that uses the aircraft it produces other than its own air force, and to think of procuring and using that system and its subcomponents for a lifetime (at least 50 years).
From such a country, such an airplane can only be produced;
Full technology transfer, production of the aircraft in Turkey, maintenance of the systems and their documentation up-to-date, etc. can be considered and evaluated if all facilities and support are provided at a very reasonable financial value
Will the J-20 Provide Combat Support to the Turkish Air Force?
It will be able to provide effective support in air-to-air missions (without prejudice to my reservations about the engine).
No open source information has been found to indicate that it can be effective in air-ground attack missions.
Conclusion
Can the J-20 Mighty Dragon be useful for our Air Force? Our answer to the question is that under these circumstances, this idea "cannot go beyond fantasy". In other words, considering the J-20 as an alternative jet fighter jet that can support the Turkish Air Force would be an unnecessary search and effort for an alternative jet fighter jet for now.
Bibliography:
1. The Most Difficult Decade Ahead for Turkish Air Power
https://strasam.org/savunma/havacilik-ve-uzay-sanayii/turk-hava-gucunun-onundeki-en-zor-on-yili-1709
2. Why are jet engines used in fighter jets so difficult to design and manufacture?
