With J-20 stealthFightersof mass production, the number of which has caught up with the United Statesf-22StealthFighters。Althoughf-22The production line has been shut down and the United States cannot continue manufacturing, but that does not meanf-22There is no longer a threat. Over time,f-22The aging problem and high maintenance costs make it even more of a headache for the United States. However, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, recently released by the US Congress, has been suspendedf-22and so onFightersof the phase-out plan. This means:f-22It will continue to be in service, and its number will gradually decrease.
At the same time, the J-20 is stealthyFightersThe number is approaching 200, posing a growing threat to the United States. Although the United States is ramping up productionf-35StealthFighters, but due to a lotf-35It was exported overseas, and the upgrade program was slowU.S. militaryis gradually decreasingf-35The speed of production. It is expected that in the next 2-3 years, China and the United States will become invisibleFightersThe gap will be narrowed further. In addition, China is armed with a large number of J-16sFighters, of which J-16DElectronic warfareThe advent of airplanes made it a pairf-22important threats.
The original text mentionsf-22StealthFightersand high maintenance costs, but what exactly are the problems?
Aging Problems:f-22StealthFightersThe service life is long, so the various components will face aging, such as the fuselage,EngineWait. Aging issues not only affect the performance stability of aircraft, but can also increase the risk of accidents.
High cost:f-22StealthFightersThe manufacturing and maintenance costs are very high, which makes itU.S. Air ForceTrade-offs had to be made within the limited available budget to prioritize the upgrading and improvement of other equipment.
Difficulty in upgrading: due tof-22ofStealth technologyand the system is complex, so upgrading it requires a lot of time and money. This is tooU.S. Air ForceNot right in the last few yearsf-22One of the reasons for a massive upgrade.
Limited quantity:f-22Production has been discontinued, and the original inventory is not large. Once an accident occurs, it will lead tof-22The number decreased, which is a huge loss for the United States.
Problems with combat equipment: notwithstandingf-22Deemed to beU.S. military"trump card", but due to its high cost and maintenance complexity,U.S. militaryIt tends to be retained as a strategic deterrent and defensive mission, and is not heavily used in real combat operations.
The number is growing rapidly: J-20 stealthFightersThe rapid growth of the number is:U.S. militaryA huge challenge. As China's technology continues to mature and its production capacity improves, the number of J-20s is rapidly surpassing the stealth of other countriesFighters。This makesU.S. militaryIt faces a numerical disadvantage in regional conflicts.
Technological breakthrough: J-20 stealthFightersAs a fifth-generation aircraft independently developed by China, it has advancedStealth technologyand flight performance. Its appearance makes:U.S. militaryIt needs to reassess its strategy and approach to combat in order to cope with China's growing air power.
Combat with the J-16D: In addition to the J-20, China is also equipped with a large number of J-16sFighters, and of them J-16DElectronic warfareThe performance characteristics of the aircraft are the same as:U.S. militarye a-18g growlerElectronic warfareThe aircraft is similar, and even more late-mover advantage andHeavy fighterof the advantages of the fuselage. U.S. militaryIt has been realized that the J-16D is forf-22poses another major threat.
Advantages over vintage aircraft: inModern air combat, with advanced stealthFightersCan put a lot of stress on older aircraft. The presence of the J-20 has weakened the advantages of the United States in the past, old-fashionedFightersIt has become more difficult to achieve victory in the confrontation with the J-20.
Challenges posed by time span: Althoughf-22And the J-20 are fifth-generation aircraft of different eras, but in the event of a conflict, they will become opponents of the same era. For the United States,f-22Meeting the challenges of the J-20 with other older aircraft is a daunting task.
The importance of the number of fighters: The number of fighters determines oneAir Forcecombat effectiveness. f-22Although technologically advanced, the number is limited. And for China, the mass production capacity of the J-20 will give it a numerical advantage. This makes the United States need greater combat efficiency in conflicts.
The necessity of integrated operations: inModern air combatThe combat capabilities of individual fighters do not determine victory or defeat. The improvement of comprehensive combat capabilities is crucial to solving the threat posed by advanced fighters such as the J-20, and it is neededAir ForceArmy, navy and other arms of the armed forces to coordinate operations.
The need for technological innovation: When facing challenges from adversaries such as ChinaU.S. militaryIt is necessary to increase the research and development and application of new technologies and constantly improve its own combat capability. InStealth technologyDronesArtificial intelligenceand other areas of innovation, will beU.S. militaryOvercoming the challenges of the future provides an important guarantee.
With the rapid increase in the number of J-20 andf-22The United States is faced with the enormous challenge of maintaining its strategic superiority. However, technological innovations and the development of integrated operations will beU.S. militaryIt provides critical support for addressing current and future threats. For China, the rise of the J-20 marks itsMilitaryThe rapid development of strength, but also the increasing number of challenges, the need to continuously strengthen their own strength and technological innovation to ensure long-term security and stable development. Against this backdrop, competition and cooperation between the United States and China will continue to be the focus of global attention.