DTN News: China 5th Generation Fighter Jian-12 Or J-12 (F-12 For Export Markets) And Fighter XXJ J-16

DTN News: China 5th Generation Fighter Jian-12 Or J-12 (F-12 For Export Markets) And Fighter XXJ J-16

*China's Jian-12 or J-12 (F-12 for foreign markets) is 5th generation multirole jet due to fly by 2012 and enter service by 2015. It has been codenamed XXJ by US's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). J-12 is destined to be China's top-end fighter along with the Su-30MKK when it will be introduced.

*Source: DTN News

(NSI News Source Info) TAIPEI, Taiwan - July 23, 2009: China's Jian-12 or J-12 (F-12 for foreign markets) is 5th generation multirole jet due to fly by 2012 and enter service by 2015. It has been codenamed J-XX by US's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI).

J-12 is destined to be China's top-end fighter along with the Su-30MKK\2 when it will be introduced. For now, China's top-end plane remains J-10, which is basically an Israeli airframe with Russian engines.

Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute or CADI, is a Chinese design institute and jointer partners with Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for military aircraft. The CADI seems to be working on the J-XX 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft, a stealth fighter project seemingly designated J-13, a less radical design than the competing Shenyang J-12, yet seen by some sources as getting better chances to be selected by the PLAAF around 2015. Possibly developed from the Jiān 10 in cooperation with MiGAvia, this project may be powered by two improved Saturn AL-41F engines with thrust-vectoring nozzles, and a 20 T MTOW. The designers are hoping to surpass the Eurofighter Typhoon or the Dassault Rafale, though the F-22 Raptor's capabilities would remain out of sight. But little is known about this J-13 project, as can be seen at SinoDefence's site and other sources, and still less from the CADI's pages.*

It is still under development and it is expected that Russian content will increase extensively as the development progresses. China has developed close ties with Russia's aerospace industry and has license produced many fighters including MiG-21 and Su-27.

Their FC-1/Super 7 design is based on MiG-33 (which was rejected by Soviet Air Force). Earlier Chinese planes are the Q-5 Fantan, J-8 Finback and FBC-1. The FBC-1 was their latest attempt, and was'nt successful - the Su-27 filled in for it.

Considering their track record, it may well be possible that the J-12 ends up being a re-christened MiG MFI. MAPO-MIG is already involved in the J-10 program. MFI is one of the world's 5th generation designs.

Not much is known about J-12 right now - the aircraft is still going through initial work. The project is at is where the USAF ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) Program, which lead to the F-22A, was in ~1983.

Virtually everything is still wide open. Sources within combat aircraft manufacturer Chengdu confirm that it is looking at a twin-engined design and that they are examining both single and two crew configuration.

Stealthiness is an integral part of all new fighter designs and J-12 is no exception. The engines are most likely to be Russian with Thrust Vectoring. Stealth and thrust vectoring are two features that are a must in all aircraft being designed today.

Interestingly, Chinese aircraft designers will actually perform a 'generation leap' if J-12 goes into service with PLAAF.

All aircraft produced in China before (apart from licenced Su-27) have been 3rd generation aircraft. Chengdu will have to take Western/Israeli/Russian help to make J-12 truly 5th generation.