In the deeply rooted perception of many people, the J-20 is seen as a purely "air superiority fighter" like the American F-22. Its ultimate mission is to hunt enemy aircraft in the sky and seize air superiority.

However, the public disclosure of what appears to be an unassuming belly multi-link suspension bracket has completely shattered this stereotype. It is not just a new piece of equipment, but a strong strategic signal: the J-20 is fully unleashing its inherent multi-functional potential, and its positioning has shifted from "king of air combat" to a "strategic jack-of-all-trades."

Previously, the J-20's ground attack capability was considered an "alternative" skill. Its main belly weapons bay was primarily designed to carry 4-6 air-to-air missiles. When conducting ground attacks, it could only carry 2 500kg laser-guided bombs. This configuration had limited firepower continuity, and the aircraft needed to loiter over the target area for laser illumination, increasing the risk.

The newly revealed multi-link suspension launch device will completely change the game. It enables the J-20 to carry 8 of the new generation small-diameter precision-guided bombs inside its stealthy belly weapons bay.

From 2 to 8, this is not just simple arithmetic growth, but an exponential leap in strike efficiency and sustained combat capability. This means that one sortie can strike multiple key targets or conduct multiple precise strikes on a high-value target, with its firepower delivery capability comparable to a small bomber.

The new small-diameter bombs use a "inertial + Beidou satellite" composite guidance system and can be equipped with a terminal guidance head. This means that the J-20 can perform "fire-and-forget" attacks outside the enemy's area, drop the bomb, and quickly withdraw, greatly enhancing its survivability and mission flexibility. This transformation is not accidental; it reflects China Air Force's profound strategic intent.

The Inevitable Choice After Excess Capability

With the expanding scale of J-20 deployment, its powerful air combat capabilities have already met, even exceeded, the requirements of the Chinese Air Force for seizing air superiority in the pre-planned battlefield. At this point, extending the functions of this top-tier platform to electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and especially precision strikes against land and sea targets is an inevitable step to pursue operational system efficiency and cost optimization.

When the J-20 carries small-diameter bombs, it becomes an irreplaceable "decapitation" blade. With its unparalleled stealth performance and penetration ability, it can penetrate the enemy's tightly guarded air defense system and conduct "pointing" elimination of core nodes such as command centers, radar stations, and airports.

This strike may paralyze the opponent's combat system at the beginning of the war, and its strategic value far exceeds the destructive power of the bomb itself.

The multifunctionalization of the J-20 is subtly changing the way the Chinese Air Force operates. It is no longer a "delicate assassin" that requires other fighter jets to escort, but rather a core node capable of independently executing complex missions, with both "breaking the door" and "clearing the room" capabilities. The combat system composed of it, early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, and drones will be more flat, efficient, and deadly.

Certainly, due to the limited capacity of the internal weapons bay, the J-20's absolute damage capability during ground attacks is still less than that of large bombers. However, the asymmetric strike advantage it brings is enough to overturn the battlefield rules.

This small mounting bracket marks the J-20's official departure from a single air combat role, taking a crucial step toward becoming a versatile core of the Chinese Air Force's future combat system.

Its emergence not only proves the J-20 platform's great design redundancy and upgrade potential, but also indicates that the Chinese Air Force is building a new type of combat capability characterized by stealth, penetration, intelligence, and precision. This is not only a progress in equipment, but also an evolution of the entire military's operational philosophy.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7571655803431420422/

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