Recently, multiple J-20A fighters with black paint have made a stunning appearance, sparking heated discussions among military enthusiasts. This latest upgraded version of the J-20, humorously called "Big Neck," not only has a new look but also achieves a comprehensive leap in performance. With an optimized fuselage spine design, the installation of the WS-15 "Emei" engine, improved vertical tail fin cornering, and advanced gallium nitride radar, the J-20A's overall performance is now firmly at the top of current stealth fighters, far surpassing the U.S. F-22 and F-35, becoming the absolute mainstay of the Chinese Air Force for the next decade.
The most eye-catching change in the J-20A's appearance is the raised fuselage spine behind the cockpit, which military fans humorously refer to as "Big Neck." This improvement is not just for aesthetics but represents a comprehensive optimization based on aerodynamics and functional requirements. The raised spine of the J-20A is similar in design to that of the J-35 stealth carrier-based aircraft, reducing fuselage resistance and enhancing transonic flight (0.8-1.2 Mach) performance and maneuverability. This design not only optimizes the aerodynamic layout but also provides more space for additional electronic equipment or fuel, significantly increasing range and operational radius. Compared to the F-22 and F-35, the J-20A has a clear advantage in range and operational radius, demonstrating its long-range combat capabilities as a heavy stealth fighter.
The WS-15 "Emei" engine installed in the J-20A is the core of its performance upgrade. Since March 2023, the WS-15 has entered mass production, with a maximum thrust of over 18 tons, exceeding the F-119 engine of the F-22 (about 15.8 tons). This "heart" upgrade has given the J-20A true supersonic cruise capability, maintaining speeds above 1.7 Mach without afterburner while maintaining stealth performance. Compared to the earlier used WS-10C (thrust about 13 tons), the WS-15 significantly improves the thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing the J-20A to fully surpass the F-22 in maneuverability and acceleration performance, even approaching the standards of sixth-generation aircraft. In addition, the exhaust nozzle design of the WS-15 has also been optimized, using a standard nozzle instead of a thrust vectoring nozzle, indicating China's confidence in its aviation engine technology, as the maneuverability has reached the top level without relying on vector technology.
The vertical tail design of the J-20A has also been slightly adjusted, with a cornered treatment, further enhancing its stealth performance. The vertical tail cornering reduces the radar cross-section (RCS), making the J-20A's multi-angle stealth capabilities even better. This design maintains the flexibility of the full-moving vertical tail while optimizing stability during high-speed flight, combining with the full-moving canards to make the J-20A's supersonic maneuverability smooth and precise. The J-20A's supersonic maneuvering actions have surpassed the F-22, with some high-difficulty maneuvers even unattainable by the F-22. This balance of stealth and maneuverability allows the J-20A to "detect the enemy first and strike first" in air combat.
The gallium nitride active phased array radar equipped on the J-20A represents the cutting-edge level of current aviation electronics technology. According to foreign media speculation, the radar's maximum detection range can reach up to 500 kilometers, close to the capabilities of mainstream airborne early warning aircraft, far surpassing the APG-77 radar of the F-22 and the APG-81 radar of the F-35 (both use traditional gallium arsenide technology). The gallium nitride radar, with its low internal resistance and efficient heat dissipation characteristics, can work continuously at high power, featuring multiple modes including search tracking, electronic warfare interference, communication, and synthetic aperture radar to create high-resolution maps. This "superior situational awareness" ability enables the J-20A to lock onto targets first in complex battlefield environments, guiding the "霹雳-15" long-range air-to-air missile to attack enemy aircraft over 200 kilometers away, truly achieving "first detection, first destruction." In comparison, the radar technology of the F-22 and F-35 has become outdated, and the United States is planning to upgrade to gallium nitride technology to catch up.
The new black paint on the J-20A not only enhances visual impact but may also employ advanced stealth coatings, further reducing infrared and radar signal characteristics. This all-black paint contrasts sharply with the early yellow base color test aircraft, symbolizing the J-20A's milestone from the experimental phase to the mature mass production stage. The black paint may also optimize night operations' concealment, suitable for executing "door-kicking" missions, showcasing the J-20A's bold style as the leading fifth-generation fighter globally.
The J-20 platform adopts an open architecture design, allowing each batch to quickly integrate the latest technology. From the WS-10B to the WS-15, from gallium arsenide radar to gallium nitride radar, each upgrade of the J-20A reflects its rapid response capability to technological progress. Compared to the F-22, which is difficult to upgrade due to its fixed design, and the F-35, limited by the lightweight platform's payload and range shortcomings, the J-20A leads comprehensively in flight performance, situational awareness, range, operational radius, and weapon load. With its heavy dual-engine layout, the J-20A can carry more weapons, perform diversified tasks, and demonstrate unparalleled comprehensive performance from air superiority combat to precision strikes.
The comprehensive upgrade of the J-20A marks that the Chinese Air Force has achieved a transition from catching up to leading in the field of fifth-generation aircraft. It demonstrates the strength worthy of being the "number one" stealth fighter in the world. In the next decade, the J-20A will not only be the absolute mainstay of the Chinese Air Force but will also continue to write legends on the global air combat stage.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525739662703477302/
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