China's Air Force's J-35A fighter jet, which participated in the military parade training, has sparked global discussions with its unique design. Especially the opening above the right side of the fuselage inlet, many people mistakenly thought it was a cannon port. However, this is completely a misunderstanding! This opening is not a cannon port at all, but rather a cooling air intake for onboard electronic equipment, used to dissipate heat from high-heat devices such as computers. Modern fighter jet electronic systems generate enormous heat, comparable to running 3A games on a computer requiring water cooling. The "air-cooling inlet" on the J-35A is specifically designed for its advanced electronic equipment as a thermal management channel.
Compared with the U.S. F-35, the cannon on the F-35 is located on the left side of the inlet, with a noticeable protrusion and cover. In contrast, the J-35A's left side inlet is smooth without any openings. Early prototype aircraft (the鹘鹰2.0 version) also showed that it was not equipped with a cannon. Although the J-35A as a domestically used 3.0 version may have structural improvements, the function of the cooling air intake is clear, and it is definitely not a cannon port. Mistaking the cooling opening for a cannon is simply judging a vent by the heart of a cannon.
Does the J-35A need a cannon? This question is not only about technical choices, but also relates to modern air combat trends. In the 1960s, when the "missile omnipotence theory" was popular, the U.S. F-4 aircraft suffered greatly in the Vietnam War due to the lack of cannons. At that time, missile technology was limited: medium-range missiles required semi-active radar guidance, and the carrier aircraft had to continuously aim; dogfight missiles had small field of view and were easily disturbed. Nowadays, the guidance heads of dogfight missiles are highly sensitive, capable of sensing the heat from the friction of the aircraft skin, with off-axis launch angles up to 90°, even able to "over-the-shoulder" strike targets behind. Active radar-guided medium-range missiles have a range over 100 kilometers, and long-range air-to-air missiles can reach 300-400 kilometers, making beyond-visual-range combat the mainstream.
Practical data confirms this: during the Gulf War, medium-range missiles shot down 26 aircraft, far exceeding the 12 aircraft shot down by dogfight missiles; during the Kosovo War, all Yugoslav aircraft were shot down by AIM-120 beyond-visual-range missiles; in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Ukrainian aircraft were mostly destroyed at long distances by R-77 or R-37M missiles. Although stealth fifth-generation fighters have small radar cross-sections, they can be detected by the side and rear through system operations, including early warning aircraft, land-based and sea-based radars, and multi-node detection networks, combined with the "A shoot B guide" mode, giving beyond-visual-range air combat a clear advantage. Dogfight missiles are sufficient to deal with close-range threats, and the opportunity to fire cannons is extremely rare.
The disadvantages of equipping cannons are obvious. First, cannons add dead weight to the system, occupying precious internal space, forcing the aircraft to sacrifice fuel or weapon capacity. Second, the cannon's cover and firing mechanism increase structural complexity, requiring additional reinforcement of the airframe to withstand the vibrations from firing, which not only increases maintenance costs but may also affect stealth performance. Additionally, the vibrations from cannon firing can potentially damage the precision avionics systems, reducing reliability. In comparison, optimizing the thermal management system or increasing fuel capacity can significantly enhance the aircraft's range and operational effectiveness. The F-35 has three inlets, which are used for the liquid cooling system's heat exchanger, as well as auxiliary cooling.
For ground attacks, stealth fighters tend to use glide-guided bombs with longer ranges rather than risking strafing. Modern fighter jets have much higher cooling needs than ever before, with wind cooling, liquid cooling, and thermal management systems taking priority over outdated cannon designs.
The answer to whether the J-35A is equipped with a cannon is no longer a secret. China obviously learned from historical lessons in the design of fifth-generation fighters, avoiding the mistakes of the United States in the past. The incident of mistaking the cooling air intake for a cannon highlights the advanced thermal management considerations of the J-35A. Modern air combat has entered an era of beyond-visual-range and systematized warfare, and the traditional role of cannons is gradually being phased out of history.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530520226569273897/
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