China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Surely Has F-35 ‘DNA’ – The National Interest Online

Key Point:China is the world's leader in stealing and reverse-engineering other countries products.

Photos of the J-20 provide an up close and personal look at the fuselage of the new interceptor. But the photos also appear to show a sensor system that looks awfully similar to the Lockheed Martin Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) on the front of the F-35 Lighting II.

Theres a reason for this: In 2007, Lockheed Martin dealt with something of acyber Oceans 11when Chinese hackersstoletechnical documents related to the development of the F-35. The details on the hack, eventually revealed in documents leaked by Edward Snowden, are just one example ofChinese attemptsto steal foreign aviation technology; as recently as 2017, Chinese hackerswent after Australian F-35defense contractors, nabbing even more info on the cutting-edge fighter.

Although the two electro-optical systems pictured above are not identical, they share quite a few similarities in shape and placement: compared to the Eurofighter or Su-57s electro-optical systems and Infrared Tracking Systems (IRTS), respectively, which are also mounted on top of the fuselage, the differences between the Lockheed Martin and J-20s Systems are relatively minor. The systems positioning under the nose of the aircraft also reinforces that the J-20 is probably designed for both long-range strike missions against ground targets and interceptor duties. However, the J-20 EOTS appears to be less capable than the F-35 equivalent, judging by the size and layout of the J-20 EOTS enclosure.

Much about the J-20 is shrouded in secrecy, but the plane is most likely powered by the same two AL-31F engines which are used in the Su-27, a Russian fighter that is capable of a top speed of Mach 2.3. Butthe J-20 could also be flying withindigenous (but less reliable) WS-10B engines, due to a lack of Russian engines or as a stopgap until the more powerful WS-15 jet engines are ready for operational use. And while parts of the design of the J-20 appear to resemble the F-22 and its stealthy curves, these similarities could be skin deep as the angularity on the jet inlets and wings remain quite different, and the J-20 lacks all-aspect stealth. Recently the Indian Air Forceclaimed they could trackthe J-20 using the Su-30MKIs electronically scanned Phazotron Zhuk-AE radar.

Although the J-20 has been pushed into service, recentproblems with the J-15carrier-based fighter suggest that the Chinese answer to the F-22 isnt quite ready for prime-time despite propaganda fromChinese-owned media outletsthat portray the J-20 as a fully-armed and operational battle station. That certainly sounds familiar

This first appeared in Task and Purpose here.

Image: Reuters.

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China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Surely Has F-35 'DNA' - The National Interest Online