In the Asia-Pacific region, a race for stealth fighters is raging. The United States, Japan and South Korea have deployed a large number of F-35 series fighter jets around China in an attempt to suppress China in air superiority. However, the Chinese Air Force did not respond passively, but actively promoted its own stealth fighter project, and the Chinese stealth fighter represented by the J-20 has begun to be reequipped on a large scale, showing strong strength and potential. This article will analyze how the Chinese Air Force uses the J-20 to deal with the threat of stealth fighters in the surrounding area, as well as the development prospects of the Chinese Air Force in the field of stealth fighters from the following aspects.
1. The deployment of stealth fighters of the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The F-35 is the latest fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by the United States, which has the characteristics of stealth performance, supersonic cruise, short take-off and landing, and information fusion, and is considered one of the most advanced fighters in the world. The United States not only equips its own Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps with F-35s, but also exports F-35s to its allies and partners, including Japan and South Korea.
According to reports, the United States has deployed about 80 F-35 fighter jets in the Asia-Pacific region, including 35 F-35A and 16 F-35B based in Japan and 28 F-35A stationed in South Korea. In addition, the United States plans to export more F-35 fighter jets to Japan and South Korea in the coming years, bringing it to 147 and 60 F-35s, respectively.
Japan and South Korea were the first countries in Asia to introduce the F-35, and they are also the two largest F-35 users around China. Japan took delivery of its first F-35A in 2016 and completed its first flight in 2019. Currently, Japan already has about 50 F-35A and 1 F-35B, and plans to increase it to 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B by 2024. South Korea took delivery of its first F-35A in 2018 and completed its first flight in 2019. Currently, South Korea already has about 32 F-35As and plans to increase them to 40 by the end of 2021.
It can be seen that the United States, Japan, and South Korea have deployed more than 100 F-35 fighters around China, forming a circle of stealth fighters and posing a huge threat to the Chinese Air Force. These F-35 fighters can not only perform tasks such as air superiority, ground attack, and sea strike, but also realize battlefield situational awareness, target identification, data sharing and other functions through the information fusion system, and improve combat effectiveness and coordination capabilities.
2. Measures of the Chinese Air Force to deal with threats.
In the face of the threat of stealth fighters from the United States, Japan and South Korea, the Chinese Air Force did not respond passively, but adopted a series of measures to improve its air combat capability. These measures include:
Equipment updates. The Chinese Air Force has accelerated the upgrading of its own equipment and introduced and developed a number of advanced fighters, the most notable of which is the J-20 stealth fighter. The J-20 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter independently developed by China, which has the characteristics of stealth performance, supersonic cruise, over-the-horizon combat, and information fusion, and is considered the trump card fighter of the Chinese Air Force. The J-20 was officially installed in the Chinese Air Force in 2017, and about 50 J-20s are currently in service, and it is expected to reach about 200 in the next few years. In addition to the J-20, the Chinese Air Force is also equipped with four-and-a-half-generation fighters such as the J-16, J-15 and J-10C, as well as improved fighters such as the J-11B and J-11D, forming a multi-level and multi-type fighter system and effectively improving the air combat capability.
Strategic adjustments. In light of the situation and mission requirements, the Chinese Air Force has made strategic adjustments, changing from air defense to both offensive and defensive capabilities, from land power air force to sea power air force, from a single force to joint operations, and from a regional air force to a strategic air force. These strategic adjustments have enabled the Chinese Air Force to better cope with the complex and ever-changing security environment, better safeguard national sovereignty and interests, and better fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations.
Actual combat drills. The Chinese Air Force has strengthened actual combat training and improved its combat effectiveness. The Chinese Air Force has continuously expanded the airspace and scope of its training, and has organized a series of drills such as long-range cruises, cross-regional maneuvers, night operations, complex electromagnetic environments, and live-fire firing, thus training the troops' capabilities in rapid response, long-range delivery, precision strikes, and coordinated operations. The Chinese Air Force has also actively participated in international military competitions and Xi exercises, exchanged Xi with foreign militaries, and improved its tactical level and combat experience.
Through these measures, the Chinese Air Force has effectively responded to the threat of stealth fighters in the vicinity, showing strong strength and confidence.
3. The scale and performance of the J-20 stealth fighter of the Chinese Air Force.
The J-20 is the ace fighter of the Chinese Air Force, and it is also a sharp weapon for the Chinese Air Force to deal with the threat of stealth fighters in the surrounding area. The scale and performance of the J-20 reflect the development level and strategic intentions of the Chinese Air Force.
Scale。The J-20 was officially installed in the Chinese Air Force in 2017, and about 50 J-20s are currently in service, and it is expected to reach about 200 in the next few years. The J-20 is mainly deployed in air forces in northeastern China and the Shandong Peninsula to counter the threat of stealth fighters from the United States, Japan and South Korea. These units are all units with a long history and many heroes in the Chinese Air Force, such as the 9th Regiment of the 3rd Division, the 4th Regiment of the 1st Division, and so on.
Performance。The performance of the J-20 is among the best in the world, comparable to the F-22 and F-35, and even surpasses them in some aspects. The stealth performance of the J-20 allows it to covertly approach the target and launch a surprise strike under the detection of enemy radars and electronic warfare systems. The J-20's supersonic cruise capability allows it to maintain stealth performance at high speeds, quickly change positions, and increase maneuverability and survivability. The J-20's over-the-horizon combat capability enables it to use advanced radar and missiles to strike enemy targets at long distances and avoid close-range combat. The J-20's information fusion capability enables it to share information with other platforms through data links and artificial intelligence, improving combat efficiency and coordination.
The scale and performance of the J-20 fully reflect the strength and confidence of the Chinese Air Force, and also show the effective response of the Chinese Air Force to the threat of stealth fighters in the surrounding area.
Fourth, the production strength of stealth fighters of the Chinese Air Force.
In addition to the J-20, the Chinese Air Force is also developing and producing other types of stealth fighters to meet different operational needs. These stealth fighters include:
J-31. The J-31 is another fifth-generation stealth fighter independently developed by China, with a twin-engine, double-tail design, similar to the F-22. The positioning of the J-31 is a light stealth fighter, which is mainly used to perform tasks such as ground attack and sea strike, and can also perform tasks such as air superiority and air support. The J-31 has the advantage of low cost, large number and adaptability, and can take off and land on a variety of platforms, including aircraft carriers and islands and reefs. The J-31 first flew in 2012 and has now entered the testing and refinement phase, and is expected to be installed in the Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation around 2025.
J-18. The J-18 is a VTOL stealth fighter being developed by China, similar to the F-35B. The positioning of the J-18 is a multi-purpose stealth fighter, which is mainly used to perform tasks such as ground attack, sea strike, air superiority, etc., and can also perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare and other tasks. The advantage of the J-18 is that it has flexible take-off and landing methods, and can take off and land in aircraft carriers, islands and reefs, airports and other places, which increases the combat range and mobility. The development of the J-18 is not yet clear, but there are reports that the J-18 has undergone wind tunnel tests and ground tests, and is expected to make its first flight around 2027 and be installed in the Chinese Air Force and naval aviation around 2029.
J-xx. The J-xx is a sixth-generation stealth fighter being developed by China, with a completely new design, which may use technologies such as unmanned, tailless, and drone formations. The positioning of the J-xx is an ultra-high-speed stealth fighter, which is mainly used to perform tasks such as air superiority, long-range strikes, and anti-stealth, and can also perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare and other tasks. The advantages of the J-xx are fast speed, strong stealth and high intelligence, which can break through the enemy's air defense system in a hypersonic state and carry out precision strikes on enemy targets. The development of the J-xx is still in the stage of secrecy, but there are reports that the J-xx has carried out conceptual design and preliminary research, and is expected to make its first flight around 2030 and be installed in the Chinese Air Force around 2035.
Through the development and production of these stealth fighters, the Chinese Air Force has demonstrated its strong production strength and innovation capabilities, and also shows the development prospects of the Chinese Air Force in the field of stealth fighters.
Conclusion: the strength of the Chinese Air Force surpasses that of a potential adversary.
To sum up, the development of the Chinese Air Force in the field of stealth fighters has reached the world's advanced level, and even surpassed potential opponents in some aspects. The Chinese Air Force not only has ace fighters such as the J-20, but is also developing and producing other types of stealth fighters to meet different combat needs. The Chinese Air Force has not only effectively responded to the threat of stealth fighters in its vicinity, but has also demonstrated its strategic intentions and foresight. China's Air Force has become a rising air power in East Asia, and has also made important contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty and interests and maintaining regional peace and stability.