US Air Force Leaders Worry about Stealth Jet Advantage over China

• China’s air force has grown rapidly in size and capabilities, adding advanced jets such as the J-20.
• The J-20 isn’t something to lose a lot sleep over, according to the head US Pacific Air Forces.
• Leaders of the US Air Force say that the US must continue to be ahead of China’s progress.

The rapid China expands its fighter fleetThis has alarmed its rivals but its most advanced aircraft, the J-20, isn’t too much of an issue, said the top US Air Force Officer in the Pacific.

It’s their most advanced aircraft. It’s been available for us to evaluate it, but we haven’t had much time. It seems OK,” General Kenneth Wilsbach, chief of Pacific Air Forces, stated Monday at National Harbor, Maryland’s Air, Space, and Cyber Conference.

China’s J-20 was created in 2017 and is China’s most popular. first fifth-generation fighter. Similar to other Chinese military aircraftIt is facing many technological problems, most notably in the area of technology. Underpowered engines.

Beijing is however continuing to develop the jet, and has plans to add a better engineSend it on long-range operations.

Wilsbach said that while it’s nothing to lose sleep over, they appear to be a building with a lot. He also stated that they are closely watching their development and operations.

The J-20 and FC-31, fifth-generationFighter currently under development It will be likely to be carrier-basedThe fourth-generation Chinese aircraft fleet will be augmented and “bolster its aerial-to-air capabilities,” according to the US Defense Department in its latest report on the Chinese military.

These two aircraft are “highly maneuverable, stealthy, and have an internal weapons bay as well as advanced sensors and avionics providing enhanced situational awareness, radar tracking and target capabilities, and integrated avionics. [electronic warfare]”systems,” the report said.

In April, a top official at the state-owned company that developed the J-20 stated that Regular patrols were conducted by the jetOver the East and South China Seas. Combat patrols require a higher level.

PLA Daily, a military newspaper, stated in August that J-20s were still available. Frequently scrambled in response to foreign aircraft entering China’s East China Sea air defense identification zone.

In March, Wilsbach stated that it was too soon to know if China would use J-20 as a multirole fighter aircraft or if they would focus on air superiority.

However, pilots from China appear to be able to fly. The J-20 can be handled “pretty well”Wilsbach claimed that US pilots were “relatively pleased” by Chinese command of the aircraft during an encounter over East China Sea.

Wilsbach said Monday, “We learned lots from that engagement.” It’s nothing I would worry about, honestly.

When asked about the J-20, General Charles Brown Jr., Air Force chief of Staff and Wilsbach’s predecessor at Pacific Air Forces said that he echoed Wilsbach, but added that the Chinese air force’s advancements are worth watching.

Brown stated that the J-20 was not something to lose too much sleep over. However, he said that he would pay close attention to it. We can look at it today and see that we aren’t going to lose much sleep. I’ll lose my sleep if we don’t modernize our Air Force so that they stay ahead of the curve.

China’s air force is believed to have several dozen J-20s — the Pentagon says it has “operationally fielded limited numbers” of the jet — fewer than than the US Air Force’s 186 F-22s or its Around 300 F-35As.

The Air Force continues to fight with some Elements of the F-35 ProgramIt also includes new upgrades for its weapons and software.

It is also looking to sell its F-22s, in order to free up money for the development of a sixth generation fighter. The program is known as Next Generation Air Dominance.

Brown said Tuesday that he thinks about the fifth-gen capability and air force of an adversary when evaluating Next Generation Air Dominance. We want to keep our advantage. This is the aspect that I, as the service chief, am trying to concentrate on to ensure we modernize and bring that capability to us so we don’t lose heart.

Sixth-generation aircraft remain in service. It is mainly conceptual. They won’t arrive until at most 2030 and very little information is available about them. They will be able to use their new capabilities.

In 2019, a top Chinese aircraft designer stated that “pre-researchGen. Mike Kelly spoke at the conference Wednesday, saying that work had already begun on a sixth generation jet.

Kelly is the head of Air Combat Command and oversees US fighter pilot training. He has called China’s sixth- and fifth-generation jet development a “major achievement.”Growing threat.”

Kelly stated to reporters that Chinese designers use an iterative approach which has enabled them to bridge technological gaps between different generations of aircraft. This includes moving away from older Russian-designed Sukhoi planes and moving on to more advanced foreign models.

“That’s how they did the fourth-gen. They began with Su-27 and morphed into Su-30. [built]Kelly explained that the Su-35 was acquired by them in 2016. “They build that technology base to where, essentially, that’s a good airplane, Su-35 — fourth-gen airplane, fifth-gen avionics, fifth-gen speed.”

Kelly explained that the approach makes it “a little easier for them,” adding that he expects further advancements. Kelly explained that he had cyberstalked those who did the design, and they still haven’t finished. They are very knowledgeable about what they are doing.

Despite China’s technological advances, its troops still remain Combat is not considered to be testedLacking the autonomy and experience Wilsbach referred to as what sets US pilots apart.

“Our forces have a great training. They’re well equipped. The thing that I find most satisfying, and actually comfortable with, is the ability of our airmen to lead at the lowest levels,” Wilsbach said Monday.

“I can send an F-22 or F-35 pilot to the front that could be a lieutenant. Wilsbach said that they are skilled at it. “I fly with them so I have firsthand experience.”