J-20, as China's fifth-generation stealth fighter, is designed with the core focus on achieving a stealth advantage through a low radar cross-section (RCS), ensuring survivability and surprise in modern air combat. However, recent reports about the J-20 conducting flight training with the PL-17 long-range air-to-air missile have sparked widespread discussion. This phenomenon involves a trade-off between stealth performance and firepower enhancement, and it is worth analyzing from multiple perspectives.

The PL-17 is considered an ultra-long-range air-to-air missile with a range of over 400-500 kilometers, specifically designed to strike high-value targets such as airborne early warning aircraft and refueling tankers. However, its length of approximately 5.8 meters exceeds the capacity of the J-20's internal weapons bay (about 4.5 meters), so it can only be carried externally under the wings. Carrying the PL-17 externally increases the J-20's RCS, reducing its stealth performance. Nevertheless, this configuration still maintains a strong stealth advantage, far surpassing non-stealth aircraft like the J-16.

This training may indicate that the Chinese Air Force is exploring the tactical flexibility of the J-20. The "Beast Mode" of carrying the PL-17 allows the J-20 to significantly enhance its firepower in specific missions, especially when dealing with long-range threats. The training may also have tested the "A射B导" (A launches B guided) mode, where an airborne early warning aircraft (such as the KJ-500) provides target information, allowing the J-20 to fire the PL-17 without needing its own radar lock, thus reducing the risk of exposure.

The pros and cons of this approach are clearly more favorable than unfavorable.

The ultra-long range of the PL-17 far exceeds that of the U.S. military's current AIM-120D, granting the J-20 the capability to strike high-value targets behind enemy lines, such as airborne early warning aircraft, refueling tankers, or strategic bombers, and even high-maneuverability aircraft like the F-22 and F-35. This has strategic significance in contesting air superiority or disrupting the enemy's operational system.

The "Beast Mode" of carrying the PL-17 can work in conjunction with the stealth mode. Stealth J-20s are responsible for reconnaissance and surprise attacks, while the "Beast Mode" J-20 acts as a firepower multiplier, providing long-range support. This combination can compensate for the limitation of limited ammunition in stealth mode.

Displaying the capability of the J-20 to carry the PL-17 may aim to send a signal to potential adversaries, such as the U.S. military, indicating that the Chinese Air Force has the ability for long-range strikes and flexible tactical adjustments, particularly targeting the U.S. military's aerial assets in the Pacific region.

The drawback is that external missiles increase the RCS, making the J-20 easier to detect within the detection range of early warning aircraft or enemy fifth-generation fighters. However, we must also recognize that even after attaching the PL-17, the J-20 is still difficult to detect beyond 400 kilometers, as the combined stealth performance is still good and does not affect its survivability in high-threat environments.

Additionally, the J-20 itself has supersonic cruise capability, which can provide greater initial kinetic energy to the PL-17. Its rapid deployment to the battlefield will also grant it quick interception and pursuit capabilities. The external mounting mode of the PL-17 may primarily be used for intercepting bombers and airborne early warning aircraft, forcing opponents to adopt more conservative tactical choices, or even completely abandoning the possibility of competing with the Chinese Air Force for air superiority. From this perspective, this combination itself has strategic significance.

Analyzing that this training may be verifying the J-20's adaptability in different mission scenarios, exploring the tactical application of balancing stealth and firepower. Carrying the PL-17 externally may be used to simulate specific combat scenarios, such as intercepting U.S. B-21 or B-52 bombers outside the first island chain. As the number of J-20s increases, the scope of its tactical missions will further expand, and future tasks may also include ground attacks, etc.

Certainly, the training of the J-20 carrying the PL-17 may provide data support for the design of future sixth-generation aircraft or improved variants of the J-20S. Reports state that the J-36's weapons bay can accommodate eight PL-17 missiles, indicating that the Chinese Air Force continues to strive for larger weapon bays and stronger firepower.



Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7527140217229247026/

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