JH-XX ... China's stealthy fighter-bomber unveiled !

[PaulMM (Overscan)]

J-10/FC-1(JF-17)

[JFC Fuller]

J-10/FC-17

Not that similar, and there seems to be very little evidence that the PLAAF/PLANAF have any intention of procuring the JF-17.

[Harrier]

Well, typo (thanks Overscan - I was on a train!) aside, they are both single seat fighters. The point I was trying to make was that if this is a new attack plane it does not mean the J-20 isn't. What it is for (maybe export) may mean there can be two types for a similar role.

[SOC]

Not that similar

Similar in concept, not necessarily design or execution.  Single-engine multi-role J-7 type replacements, one for export and one for home use, although the J-10 is likely to be exported itself.

And if Chengdu is apparently at the forefront of China's LO aircraft development, maybe seeing this thing there (if it is in fact a JH-7 derivative) isn't out of the question.  Think along the lines of Northrop's F-17 and McD-D's F-18 maybe.  Could also be that Chengdu has the only facilities able to produce components to LO tolerances right now as well.  With the size of the J-20 and the apparent size of its weapon bays, however, one has to wonder if this "JH-7LO" is yet another export-targeted platform, as the J-20 represents a far more survivable design with the probable range and internal volume to perform in the strike role. 

Besides, with the J-20, producing a "JH-7LO" for home use is basically pointless.  Hang a bunch of ordnance from it and you say goodbye to a lot of your LO benefits.

[PaulMM (Overscan)]

Seems to have been a fake, guys.

[Deino]

What a shame on me !!! 

Yes, reportedly an unknown CG-artist simply wanted to show his/her capabilities.

Sorry, and I have to admit ... shame on me.

Deino 

[fightingirish]

Deino,
I hope not, that you were allready writing an article for an aviation magazine? 

[Deino]

Deino,
I hope not, that you were allready writing an article for an aviation magazine? 

Nope ! 

[Deino]

http://the-diplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2011/06/14/54faking-chinese-stealth-fighters/

[Foxglove]

What a letdown. Here's JH-7B,  apparently no stealth features. Found this on Huitong's site.

[sferrin]

Larger intakes for more powerful engines maybe? 

[latenlazy]

Larger intakes for more powerful engines maybe? 

Oh hey, didn't even notice! Good eyes.

I think the chatter seems to indicate that XAC opted for a less audacious upgrade than all the leaked mock-ups and digital models were indicating. Makes sense, considering how much they now have on their plate (and how unnecessary a stealthy JH-7 may end up being).

[Deino]

Actually I'm more and more convinced that the JH-7B-project is indeed only an avionics-related upadate - and as such I'm almost sure that is is intented as a MLU - with nearly no external changes.
If You look there are already two prototypes - the yellow/green 821 and the one with only a new front section numbered 822 - and I assume one is a new built aircraft, whereas the other one could be a refurbished older JH-7A
Even that strange-looking bump on the tail is only due to an optical Illusion since the tail's leading edge has the same colour as the sky in the background.
 
 Deino

[Deino]

again the JH-7B ... but it seems as if there at least externaly no changes at all !?   

[quellish]

Question: If you RCS optimize the shape but construct the aircraft from Aluminum, will it still reasonably reduce the RCS? I see a lot of rivets in that photo....

Have you ever heard of the F-117?