China's Afterburner: How China is building fifth-generation airplanes
China has begun testing a fifth-generation deck-mounted fighter to arm aircraft carriers under construction. This is one of a number of ambitious projects being implemented in this country. How the programs of construction of the latest aircraft in China are developing - in the material of "Izvestia".
China is creating a new deck fighter for aircraft carriers
A Chinese military pilot on national television reported that the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) has begun testing a new-generation deck fighter. The report did not show footage of the test or the new aircraft, but presumably referred to the J-31 (or J-35), a modification of the FC-31 twin-engine fifth-generation fighter that made its maiden flight in 2012.
Why does China need a fifth-generation deck plane? The country is pursuing an ambitious program to build an ocean-going aircraft carrier fleet. Today, the Chinese Navy already has two operating aircraft carriers - the Liaoning and the Shandong. The Liaoning is a rebuilt Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag, which China bought in 1998.The third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was launched in 2022, is currently undergoing trials and will be handed over to the navy in 2025. This ship is already equipped with electromagnetic catapults. And further - China is also building a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of a completely new project, on which the program of construction of such ships, most likely, will not stop. Now China uses the J-15 deck fighter, based on the Russian Su-33, to arm aircraft carriers. But it is obvious that China plans to rearm not only its air force but also its aircraft carrier forces with fifth-generation aircraft.
China's first fifth-generation airplane
One of the most famous projects of Chinese fifth-generation aircraft and, in fact, the Chinese "firstborn" is the Chengdu J-20 multi-role fighter. Since its first flight in 2011, it has attracted considerable attention from military experts and aviation enthusiasts around the world. China refers to this aircraft as the fifth generation, despite some formal differences: for example, the plane uses an engine with Russian roots, which was clearly designed for aircraft of previous generations. But the J-20 was the fourth new-generation aircraft to take to the air in the world - after the U.S. F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II and Russian Su-57.
Like other fifth-generation aircraft, the J-20 has been developed with an emphasis on radar signature reduction technologies. The use of radio-absorbing materials, internal weapons bays and special shapes of the aircraft's external contours help minimize the reflection of radar waves. The J-20 is equipped with advanced avionics, including an active phased array radar (APAR) that can detect and track multiple targets at long ranges. Armament includes air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles with the capability to use a wide range of air-to-ground weapons. The J-20 uses Russian engines, but China is seeking to equip the aircraft with its own advanced engines that are under development.
Once testing is completed, the J-20s will enter PLA Air Force regiments starting in December 2016. The airplanes are being built at a high rate, and there are now probably about 200 J-20s already in the air force. That is, the Chinese "raptor" is likely already equal in number to its American "counterpart".
What are China's prospects in the sphere of creation of the newest airplanes?
But the J-20 refers to heavy fighters, and China has staked on several variants of fifth-generation aircraft at once. And a year later than the J-20, the more compact and made according to the classic aerodynamic scheme Shenyang FC-31 made its first flight. Initially, the airplane used Russian engines, but later on those samples that are being tested are installed Chinese WS-13. The airplane is undergoing tests and, in addition to becoming a prototype for a new deck fighter, is also apparently planned for export deliveries. And on the world market, the aircraft is positioned as a less expensive competitor to the American F-35. As such, it will clearly have serious potential for export deliveries. Especially since the Chinese airplane is equipped with two engines, unlike the overseas F-35. And this means greater reliability at a lower cost - that is a unique advantage.
On the basis of the second Chinese fifth-generation fighter, a new machine was created - a variant for basing on aircraft carriers. In 2021, a prototype of the new fighter, which is based on the FC-31 and unofficially designated the J-35, made its first flight. The deck plane has a catapult launching device and a modernized airframe - the wing is made foldable. There are other minor changes in the design, but the basic remains the same as in the FC-31: two engines, the latest avionics, closed compartment for weapons. And now this particular aircraft has entered the full-scale testing program. And it may well be that this program will include flights from the third Chinese aircraft carrier "Fujian", which is equipped with catapults (the first two Chinese aircraft carriers similar to the Russian "Admiral Kuznetsov" do not have catapults, takeoff is done by means of a springboard).
Thus, today China is becoming one of the leaders in the creation and production of fifth-generation fighters in the world. Yes, the Chinese machines still use less advanced engines than American or Russian similar airplanes. But otherwise, these airplanes meet all the criteria that today are required for the most modern aviation equipment. And China's industrial capabilities are certainly impressive - there is no doubt that after the tests are completed, all new aircraft carriers of the PLA Navy will receive the new deck aircraft.
