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08.12.2002 19:58:18
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Современность; ВВС;
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будущее китайских ВВС (английскою мовою)
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - DECEMBER 11, 2002
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China launches new stealth fighter project
YIHONG CHANG JDW Correspondent
Zhuhai
The Shenyang Aircraft Company has been selected to head research and development of a new heavyweight fighter for China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), according to a senior source at the China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I).
Development of the engines and weapon subsystems for the fourth-generation fighter has been under way for some time, according to the source, who revealed that a number of design concepts have already been created. Wind-tunnel tests of these are about to start, including the two configurations pictured here. They show a twin-engine aircraft sharing some design traits with Lockheed Martin's stealthy F/A-22 multirole fighter, now undergoing tests with the US Air Force, such as the internal carriage of its weapon systems. The Chinese designs retain a more conventional wing, however, and use a single vertical tail fin.
AVIC I officials told Jane's Defence Weekly that the new aircraft - tentatively dubbed the J-X and possibly to receive the service designation J-13A - could use the WS10A turbofan engine designed by the Shenyang Liming Motor Company during its development and trials process.
In development for more than a decade, the WS10-series power plant completed air trials earlier this year with an Su-27SK (NATO reporting name: 'Flanker-B') fighter. The WS10A is scheduled for introduction with the PLAAF's new J-10A fighter, which has yet to be formally unveiled.
Continuing research into advanced control techniques is expected to in time allow the air force to field WS10A-powered J-10A and J-X fighters equipped with thrust-vectoring nozzles offering improved aircraft manoeuvrability.
Chinese television has shown images of President Jiang Zemin inspecting this project. The concepts indicate that the thrust-vectoring nozzle can be deflected by up to ±15є in any direction. Perfecting thrust-vectoring flight is one of the key aviation development programmes within Beijing's current five-year plan - a cap ability tipped to "improve the J-10A's short take-off and landing performance and [enable it to] attain the manoeuvrability standard of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter", said one industry source.
An assessment of potential multi-function fire-control radar systems for the new stealth fighter is also under way, with candidates including China's indigenous Type 1473 design. According to an industry source, this has a search distance of 150km and can track up to 15 targets, attacking between six and eight of them simultaneously. The design is currently undergoing upgrade to allow for the integration of a phased-array antenna.
Another option is the Russian Zhemchung system, which could allow a future naval variant of the J-10A to deploy advanced weapons such as the Kh-31A (AS-17: 'Krypton') medium-range anti-ship missile. In addition to planning its own active and passive phased-array antenna design, China is giving consideration to Russia's Pero active antenna, and has also already received 20 980mm slotted antenna sets from Russia.
While AVIC I sources will not speculate when the new fighter might make its first test flight, a debut around the end of the decade could be expected if the project matches the development process for China's J-10A and J-8D projects. Further impetus has been placed on the new programme, however, through Zemin's encouragement that relevant weapons and technologies be acquired from Russia and Ukraine. Zemin has also committed future funding for the J-X concept's continued development.
In a related development, an authorative source within China's military industry has also confirmed to JDW that the air force's first 10 AL-31FN-engined J-10A fighters were deployed with the country's Nanjing Military Command during August 2002 for training activities. The PLAAF's first two-seat J-10B fighters will enter manufacture next year, featuring enhanced air-to-ground and maritime attack capabilities.