Recently, in a special program celebrating the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese military on CCTV, a twin-tail fighter appeared. Its appearance is very similar to the U.S.-made F/A-18 "Super Hornet." This aircraft has been humorously nicknamed the "Super Little Yellow Hornet" by netizens. Some people, upon seeing it, began to speculate wildly, guessing that it might be the carrier-based aircraft for the Type 076 amphibious assault ship.
But in fact, this is not the case at all. The Type 076 ship is likely to be equipped with high-performance fighters or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of conducting combat and attack missions. The "Super Hornet," however, is a new generation of carrier-based training fighter aircraft specifically designed for the "Fujian" aircraft carrier and the future carrier-based aviation system. Not only can it serve as a trainer, but it also has the capability for light multi-role attacks.
The "Super Hornet" adopts a twin-tail and leading-edge root extension (LERX) aerodynamic layout. Compared to a single tail design, this aircraft offers better directional stability and handling, especially suitable for flying in complex crosswind conditions during takeoff and landing on an aircraft carrier. By designing two vertical tails, the overall height of the aircraft is reduced. This makes it easier to move and store the aircraft in the carrier's hangar.
Additionally, when performing dangerous and complicated operations such as electromagnetic catapult takeoff and arrested landing, these two vertical tails make the rudder easier to control, providing more power for maneuvering. This allows the flight control system and aerodynamic design to work more effectively, offering pilots a safer and more stable training environment.
When fighter jets fly at supersonic speeds, the "side force" and "yawing moment" generated by the fuselage significantly increase. A single tail needs to increase its area to balance these forces, but excessive area leads to increased aerodynamic drag. The advantage of a twin-tail design is that it can distribute the forces, using a "distributed loading" approach to share the moments produced. This way, each tail can have a smaller area while maintaining the same overall performance. Smaller areas reduce the drag experienced by the aircraft during high-speed flight, especially during transonic flight, where it can significantly reduce the wave drag caused by approaching the speed of sound.
When fighter jets perform large angle-of-attack maneuvers (where the angle between the fuselage and the airflow exceeds 30°), a single tail may be blocked by the wings or fuselage. This causes the airflow around the tail to become disrupted, leading to "flow separation," which can result in loss of directional control, i.e., the risk of stalling.
Twin tails typically use an "outward inclination design" (such as the F-22 with an outward inclination of 27°, and the J-20 with an outward inclination of about 20°). This helps avoid the shadowed airflow from the wings, providing a stable yawing moment even at large angles of attack, ensuring controllability during post-stall maneuvers (such as the "Cobra maneuver").
A particularly unique feature of twin tails is their ability to "differentially deflect." What does this mean? It means that the vertical tails on both sides of the aircraft can rotate in opposite directions. This creates additional rolling force, which can work together with the ailerons on the wings to control the aircraft's roll. Especially when the aircraft is flying slowly or the nose is raised at a large angle relative to the airflow, the ailerons on the wings are less effective. At this point, the differential function of the two vertical tails becomes very useful, compensating for the limitation of the ailerons and making the aircraft more maneuverable and safer. A single tail can only provide yaw control, with roll completely dependent on the ailerons, resulting in lower redundancy.
Based on the J-10/L-15 platform, this aircraft features a reinforced structure, powerful engine, advanced electronic systems, and a significant external load capacity. It is similar to the Korean FA-50 and the American T-7A, and it is not just a trainer. In the future, it could be upgraded into a light carrier-based fighter-bomber. If equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, paired with PL-10, PL-12 missiles, and precision-guided bombs, or even equipped with an electronic warfare pod, this aircraft would be incredibly versatile!
It can conduct ground and surface attacks, provide tactical support, and become a multi-purpose carrier-based combat platform capable of performing various tasks. Of course, these capabilities may not be necessary for China's carrier-based aircraft fleet, but they could be suitable for some third-world countries with limited military budgets.
Some people outside have speculated that the "Super Hornet" is the carrier-based aircraft for the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, which is actually a misunderstanding. In fact, the Type 076 ship uses an advanced integrated electric propulsion system and is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult. With these facilities, the ship will be able to accommodate fixed-wing carrier-based aircraft. However, this ship is more compatible with heavy fighters like the J-15 or J-35, which would be suitable for deployment on board. Alternatively, it could carry attack drones, such as the CH-11, to perform high-difficulty and high-intensity sea or ground attacks.
The "Super Hornet" is not very large in size or weight. It was specifically designed and manufactured to match the electromagnetic catapult system of the "Fujian" aircraft carrier. With it, the Chinese Navy has now filled the gap in its carrier-based training aircraft, which can effectively meet the needs of carrier-based aircraft for catapult takeoffs and arrested landings. Moreover, in the event of an emergency, it can also step in to perform some light combat missions.
The exposure of the "Super Hornet" is a symbol of the maturing of China's carrier-based aviation system. It is not the main carrier-based aircraft for the Type 076 ship, but rather a training and light combat platform tailored for the "Fujian" aircraft carrier. The Type 076 ship is more likely to carry heavy fighters or attack drones, forming a "manned + unmanned" combat formation. Now that the "Fujian" aircraft carrier has entered service, the construction of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship is progressing steadily. In this context, the Chinese Navy aims to build a carrier-based aviation system that is scientifically reasonable, efficient, and practical, meeting real combat requirements. The "Super Hornet" is a particularly important component in the process of continuous progress and upgrading of the Chinese Navy's carrier-based aviation capabilities.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7538627339064951334/
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