Chengdu J-20 news and analysis Part III

siegecrossbow said:
Pretty nuts that we never saw video of PL-15 launch until latter half of 2023 when it has been the mainstay on J-20/J-16/J-10C for around half a decade.
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... and it is most likely already superseded by the new PL-16! Maybe this is the first leak:
 

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PL16——Assuming this missile is indeed called that, it is rumored that its size is similar to the PL15 and can fit into the J20's weapons bay. This might be the first time I've seen a questionable photo of the PL16's existence. The PL15 is also a product from more than ten years ago, so it is normal for a new missile to replace the PL15. Moreover, last year there were many rumors that the old PL15 production line had been shut down.
 
SUPER=BUG said:
The PL15 is also a product from more than ten years ago, so it is normal for a new missile to replace the PL15.
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I wouldn't necessarily say normal, as usually missiles go through many iterations across many years before being replaced by a clean sheet design. Something that didn't occure with the PL-15 as far as we are aware. Now, if 'PL-16' isn't completely clean sheet, but instead a heavily evolved and modified PL-15 I wouldn't be surprised.
 
Always thought that the PL-16 was the PL-17 at least that is what the photos that I have seen online call it, it is all so confusing. :confused:
 
Nothing in the article says something about Mikoyan

Without paywall (can we please stop posting paywalled articles and just link the archive directly?): https://archive.ph/UA7oX

And the embezzlement has been known for over a year now.

Lastly, as someone with a deep passion for Soviet and Russian aviation, to which I dedicate significant portions of my free time. And as someone with a passing interest in Chinese aviation, can we finally let this J-20/MiG 1.44 hoax die? The two aircraft have no commonalities whatsoever aside from being twin engine delta canards. But everything else from design period, capabilities, intakes, canard placement, engine, avionics, radars, sensors, materials, weapons etc. etc. is different. It's like saying the F-22 is heavily based on the Me-262.
 
WatcherZero said:
You didn't read the second of the two articles I posted then.
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A second BS report does not make the first BS more credible! Take this as a clear warning to stop speaking fake news and lies.
 
If you don't think the South China Morning Post is credible then what is, its aligned with the Chinese Government so you cant accuse it of being anti-regime.
 
WatcherZero said:
If you don't think the South China Morning Post is credible then what is, its aligned with the Chinese Government so you cant accuse it of being anti-regime.
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First,SCMP is not aligned with Chinese government,and I thought everyone already knew that the military - related content of the South China Morning Post is completely untrustworthy.
 
stealthflanker said:
Hm November 3, 2025 right ? Hongdu.
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Point is that they were comfortable enough with him roaming around unescorted well after investigation started in late 2024, meaning that they let him retire in low profile instead of imprisoning him or worse. During the same investigation his upper manager Tang Ruisong was handled in a high profile manner and got a death reprieve in early Jan 2025 I believe.
 
I won't say anything else about this to avoid further derailing the thread, but FG related media isn't automatically BS; they have some good access to the inner workings of the Chinese government and are well-funded. But they are utterly captive to their agenda, and the more outrageous the rumor, the more they promote it.

To put it another way, when genuinely crazy stuff happens, it's likely that they'll be the source that breaks the news. When genuinely crazy stuff doesn't happen, it's still likely that they'll proliferate the rumor as fact.

Because so much English-language media focused on China is part of their network of overt and covert outlets, it's unavoidably relevant to conversations about Chinese defense projects to be aware of their place in the media landscape. If you aren't, it's not possible to effectively assess, think critically, and filter the noise. Same thing applies to CCP captured media as well. I'm not taking sides here.
 
WatcherZero said:
If you don't think the South China Morning Post is credible then what is, its aligned with the Chinese Government so you cant accuse it of being anti-regime.
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Historically, as a Hong-Kong based English language publication, SCMP was not aligned with the Chinese Government, though its more censored now than before no doubt.

Minnie Chan, Defence correspondent of the SCMP, had a poor track record historically on accuracy, but she seems to have gone missing in 2023. So, possibly not a reflection on now so much as a prejudice from prior reporting.
 
TwoTribes said:
The South China Morning Post was acquired by Jack Ma in 2015, so I don't consider it a 100% pro-China media outlet.
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He seems to have reconciled. Was pictured shaking hands with the president in 2025, allowed out to London and returned to executive control at Alibaba last November. Though the owner of media is effectively irrelevant after the introduction of the Hong Kong national security law in 2020 and the transfer of media political content regulation in Hong Kong which was already under the HK Police to the Office for Safeguarding National Security.

But anyway lets continue.
 
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Guys ! Really? Do we really need to post any random BS from unreliable click-bait YouTube videos & rumour-spreading sites!??

Yes, asking questions is fine, that‘s for what forums are, but at least a bit of understanding and common sense where a certain claim comes from is not too much!
 
Well, that is clearly a 62xxx serial number and as such - I would like to wage a guess - the first J-20A assigned to the 9th Air Brigade at Wuhu!

But if I'm not mistaken, the engines still look to be WS-10C2 engines and not yet the WS-15.

(Via @太湖军I名)

IMG_7591.jpeg
 
Why no WS-15 engins in the J-20A yet Deino? I would have thought that the PLAAF would have been anxious to get the new engines into the J-20A's by now.
 
Thanks Siegecrossbow, so will they get ubgraded at some point in the future. Or will they still have the old engines?
 
FighterJock said:
Thanks Siegecrossbow, so will they get ubgraded at some point in the future. Or will they still have the old engines?
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No,WS-15 cannot completely replace WS-10,In terms of maximum range, it will be reduced compared to the J-20 version equipped with WS-10,Not to mention the cost of replacement.The perfect J-20 still needs to be equipped with ACE engines.
 
So when are the ACE engines expected to be manufactured and fitted to the J-20?
 
Reliable observers in China previously said that the ACE engine would be installed on the aircraft before 2035.I believe he means J-36. However, I have no idea when it will be fit to J-20 or never will be.
 
tico said:
Reliable observers in China previously said that the ACE engine would be installed on the aircraft before 2035.I believe he means J-36. However, I have no idea when it will be fit to J-20 or never will be.
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I just think that since the J-20 emphasizes both high-speed performance and long range, the ACE engine is crucial for it.
 
tico said:
Reliable observers in China previously said that the ACE engine would be installed on the aircraft before 2035.I believe he means J-36. However, I have no idea when it will be fit to J-20 or never will be.
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The WS-15 is likely a lower bypass engine with a larger core whose increased performance will come at the cost of efficiency. A high-bypass potentially adaptive engine built around it will have a larger diameter and will not fit in the J-20, that's my 2 cents.
 
That is a pity Elysium, that will mean that the J-20 will not have a more powerful engine that can fit in it.
 

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