Re: F-117 technology and the new Chinese bird


Message posted by Peter Merlin on January 23, 2011 at 23:30:37 PST:

I don't see a connection. The F-117A employed relatively primitive stealth technology. The Chinese appear to have leapfrogged that step and gone straight to a more modern approach, somewhat akin to what we see in the F-22 and F-35.

The J-20 appears to be a technology demonstrator like the YF-22 or YF-23. The results of the J-20 test program will, no doubt, eventually spawn a new generation of low-observable combat aircraft for China's air force. As with many Chinese technology development efforts, they have benefitted most by waiting until other nations had sufficiently matured the technology before attempting to build their own version.

A similar example can be seen in China's manned space program. The Shenzhou spacecraft shows a distinct similarity to the Russian Soyuz but with a variety of Chinese innovations. A "wait and see" approach left China to become the world's third spacefaring nation four decades after the first human ventured into orbit, but probably resulted in substantial cost savings and other benefits. It seems as if they are using the same approach in the development of fighter aircraft.


In Reply to: F-117 technology and the new Chinese bird posted by Robert on January 23, 2011 at 18:05:46 PST:

Replies:



[ Discussion Forum Index ] [ FAQ ]