The most recent one is exciting, showing a two-seater J-20Fighters, which is iconic with the J-20Air ForceLow visibility paint rendering. This information indicates that the two-seater J-20FightersIt is possible that it has already begun service, or it has already been handed overAir ForceCarried out for test use, ready for delivery to combat units. As the world's first two-seat fifth-generation aircraft, the two-seat J-20FightersIt has attracted much attention, and some even praised it as "the world's first five and a half generations."Fighters”。Well, the two-seater J-20FightersWhat's so special about it?
In the context of the increasing intelligence of avionics, why do we need two?Pilotsto drive thisFightersWhat about it?Actually, the two-seater J-20FightersIt was designed for a simple reason: onePilotsThe workload is too much to afford. Of course, this is just a simplified answer, a different two-seater typeFightersPilotsThe reasons for the busyness are also different.
For example, such as the J-16FightersIt is a two-seater typeFighters, its two-seat design is designed to enable division of labor and cooperation in multi-purpose operations, thereby increasing combat efficiency. For example, onePilotsFocus on piloting fighters, anotherPilotsFocus on the use of various types of guidance。In addition, J-16FightersDerived J-16DElectronic warfareThe machine chose a two-seater type so that onePilotsDedicated to useElectronic warfaredevice, anotherPilotsResponsible for piloting the aircraft. In contrast, two-seaters like the J-11BS and J-10S, since they are combat trainers, the two-seater design is designed for better trainingPilots
However, for fifth-generation aircraft, a two-seat design is not necessarily needed to maintain multi-purpose combat capability. For example, the United States is developing the F22FightersLater, it was planned to develop a fighter-bomber modification of the F22, the famous FB22 fighter-bomber. However, after the Cold War, the United States facedMilitaryThe threat has been greatly reduced, and many are advancedEquipment research and development projects were canceled, including FB22. U.S. militaryIt is believed that with the advancement of computer technology, the five generations of single-seatersFightersIt is also possible to complete multi-purpose combat missions. This view was later verified, with two models, the F35 and the J-20FightersWith the help of an advanced on-board computer, in onePilotsUnder the control, it can also achieve no less than the four generations and four and a half generations of multi-purposeFighterscapacity.
Two-seater J-20FightersThere are special reasons for this. First of all, for modern timesFightersThe two-seater design is not just for trainingPilotsand division of labor, more importantly, for command and controlDrones。Two-seater J-20Fightersshows that we are moving towards this goal.
In five generationsFightersAfter reaching a fairly high level of stand-alone performance, it will greatly surpass the five generationsFightersIt's not easy. That's why six generationsFightersOne of the reasons for the delay in showing up. However, we found improvementFightersA new approach to combat performance. Since it is very difficult to improve the performance of a single machine, let's let the fifth-generation machine find more helpers. This is the "unmanned wingman" tacticsU.S. militaryThis concept has been developed for a long time and a number of complementary products have been developed, including the XQ58DronesWait. However,U.S. militaryThe positioning of the "unmanned wingman" has been changing, and it is currently believed that the "unmanned wingman" should be five generationsFightersThe flight pylons only need to have the ability to fly autonomously and fire ammunition. Therefore,U.S. militaryI think even if it is a single-seater type of five generationsFightersIt is also possible to employ the tactics of "unmanned wingman", becauseU.S. militaryThe envisaged "unmanned wingman" does not need to perform complex tasks.
However, the Chinese People's Liberation Army withU.S. militaryThere are two distinct differences in this regard. First of all, China plans to bring most of the largeDronesIncorporate someoneFightersand not just a specific kind of "unmanned wingman". For example, J-16FightersCan command Attack 2DronesConduct operations. The second difference is that China has more requirements for "unmanned wingmen".U.S. militaryHigher. U.S. militaryThe envisaged "unmanned wingman" would only need to act as a flying air ammunition depot, while the Chinese "unmanned wingman" would need to be extendedFightersTasks of the Situational Awareness range. This means that China's "unmanned wingmen" will carry advanced onesPhased array radarand other sensing equipment, which is responsible for commandingFightersProvide a wealth of intelligence data that needs to be identified and processed. Some ** sources also show that China is considering giving "unmanned wingman" air combat capabilities, which requires complex maneuvering route planning and command, and the pressure of these tasks will also be passed on to those in chargeFighters。Obviously, in the face of these command and intelligence identification tasks, even equipped with advanced computers, the single-seat version of the J-20FightersIt's also hard to do it. So, the two-seater J-20FightersThe appearance of the front seatPilotsResponsible drivingFightersand combat duty, back seatPilotsResponsible for directing all typesDronesflight and combat missions can greatly improve the J-20Fighterscombat effectiveness.
Two-seater J-20FightersThe emergence of ChinaAir Forcein command and controlFighterswithDronesA major breakthrough has been made in the ability to do so. By the design of a two-seater machine, onePilotsYou can focus on drivingFighters, anotherPilotsYou can focus on commandingDronesand grasp the big picture. This will undoubtedly greatly increase combat efficiency and combat capability.
Two-seater J-20FightersThe emergence of China also meansAir ForceEmphasis on multi-purpose operations. Except for the conductorDronesOperational, two-seater J-20FightersIt is also able to carry many moreand ammunition, providing stronger fire support.
However, the two-seat J-20FightersThere are still some challenges. First of allFightersThe cockpit space is limited, and the second place is addedPilotsIt may affect the front seatPilotsThe space of the operation. Therefore, the design needs to be adjusted to the cockpit to provide sufficient space for combat operations.
In addition, the two-seater J-20FightersThe cost of research and development may be higher, because the existing single-seat J-20 already has a high combat capability, and the development of a two-seat model again requires a large transformation and upgrade of the flight control system and airborne electronic equipment.
Finally, the two-seater J-20FightersThe actual effect needs to be further verified. Although the two-seater J-20FightersEquipped with large-scale operationDronesBut whether it can give full play to its advantages in actual combat also needs to be verified in actual combat in a complex environment.
To sum up, the two-seater J-20FightersAs the world's first two-seater fifth-generation aircraft, it has command and controlDronesto improve combat efficiency and fire support capabilities. Its emergence marks a major breakthrough in China's air command and control capabilitiesAir ForceMore means of combat and capabilities are provided. However, the two-seater J-20FightersThere are still some challenges to the development of the country, and its practical effects need to be further verified.