China Benchmarks US Game Changer 'NGAD'

China Begins Development of 6th Generation Tactical Aircraft... Development of J-20 Stealth Fighter Dual-Seat Model
State-run CCTV Releases Flight Footage of J-20 and GJ-11 via Computer Graphics

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jo Young-shin] The background behind the development of China's 5th generation stealth J-20 fighter jet as a two-seater (with two pilots) has been confirmed.

Photo by Baidu Capture

The J-20 is a fighter jet independently developed by China to counter the world's most powerful existing fighter, the United States' F-22. Unlike the F-22, F-35, and Su-57 stealth fighters, China separately developed a two-seater model of the J-20.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 20th, citing China's state-run CCTV, that China has begun research on wingmen operations involving the stealth unmanned drone GJ-11 performing combat missions alongside the J-20.

SCMP stated that CCTV broadcast computer-generated graphics showing the J-20 fighter jet flying together with a drone presumed to be the GJ-11. CCTV explained that among the two J-20 pilots, the one seated in the rear controls the drone. SCMP added that this is the first time Chinese state media has explained the reason for developing the two-seater J-20 model.

Chinese military expert Wei Dongxu said, "In future combat, unmanned drones will replace manned fighter jets," and explained, "One J-20 pilot will control the fighter jet, while the other will control the drone."

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping said, "The two-seater J-20 model was created to introduce the U.S. concept of Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD, 6th generation tactical fighter)," adding, "Besides the GJ-11 drone, many drone platforms possessed by China can become loyal wingmen to Chinese fighter jets."

China's J-20 wingman research appears to benchmark the NGAD project currently underway in the United States. The U.S. is conducting the NGAD project as part of developing 6th generation fighter jets. It is widely analyzed that once NGAD development is completed and deployed in combat, it could become a 'game changer' that dominates air superiority worldwide.

However, cost is an issue. According to the U.S. Air Force's budget proposal for fiscal year 2023 submitted in March, $1.7 billion (2.44 trillion KRW) is allocated for the NGAD project. This amount covers only part of the development costs. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated in 2018 that the price per NGAD team is $300 million (376.8 billion KRW), more than three times the price of the F-35A. Including operational costs after deployment, an astronomical amount will be required.

Given that the U.S. is sensitive to technology leaks to the extent that it does not sell the F-22 fighter jet to allies, it is highly likely that NGAD will not be sold either. NGAD will have to be operated solely at U.S. expense.

Photo by Global Times

Meanwhile, China's Ministry of National Defense announced in the work report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that the J-20 stealth fighter jet has been deployed in combat across all five major theaters of the People's Liberation Army (Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central), significantly strengthening China's air force capabilities.

Despite China's announcement of strengthened air force capabilities following the nationwide deployment of the J-20, doubts about the actual performance of the J-20 persist. The J-20 measures 20.3 meters in length, 12.9 meters in wingspan, and 4.5 meters in height, making it larger than the U.S.'s main stealth fighters, the F-22 and F-35.

It is a blended wing-body type equipped with forward horizontal canards instead of horizontal tail wings. The general assessment is that its radar cross-section is larger, which inevitably reduces stealth performance.

Additionally, although China claims to have equipped the J-20 with domestically developed engines rather than Russian engines, these engines have not been internationally verified. Because of this, despite its large size, there are concerns that the air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles that can be carried in its internal weapons bay will be limited.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.