Kind of frightening this thing has gotten this far along and we just NOW find out about it...http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3acaf36660-d425-4fbc-a284-008017b2b444&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDesthttp://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/is-this-chinas-first-stealth-fighter/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WiredDangerRoom+%28Blog+-+Danger+Room%29&utm_content=Google+Readerhttp://www.dailymailtimes.com/?p=693http://ericpalmer.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/better-images-of-chinese-j-20-fighter-part-2-military/

Kind of frightening this thing has gotten this far along and we just NOW find out about it...http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3acaf36660-d425-4fbc-a284-008017b2b444&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDesthttp://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/is-this-chinas-first-stealth-fighter/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WiredDangerRoom+%28Blog+-+Danger+Room%29&utm_content=Google+Readerhttp://www.dailymailtimes.com/?p=693http://ericpalmer.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/better-images-of-chinese-j-20-fighter-part-2-military/

HelloWell it is supposed to be a stealth fighter :(

A LOT more photos here.http://club.mil.news.sina.com.cn/thread-303390-1-1.html

Kind of frightening this thing has gotten this far along and we just NOW find out about it...

By we, I'm presuming that you mean the western public, not the governments of the western world?Remember that quoted defense analysts aren't necessarily the DoD, CIA, and other stealthy agencies who wouldn't tell you when they went to the bathroom this morning, nevermind what they know about China's military secrets. Maybe... just maybe... this'll be the lifeline that helps get F-22 funding back on track somehow.

That looks pretty big for a fighter, seems more like the size of a bomber to me, which to be honest would make more sense for a stealthy aircraft.Al

I don't get it why would anyone underestimate China's ability to manufacture anything.... especially technology that has been declassified for so long...

I don't get it why would anyone underestimate China's ability to manufacture anything.... especially technology that has been declassified for so long...

I agree with you, and appreciate your vote of confidence in my country. :( But also know that it is very difficult and cost prohibitive to do R&D and manufacture on the cutting edge of technologies. Cost is no concern because these days China has money just overflowing out of its pockets and shirt collar. And we are best at "borrow and learn". Want my 1.3 billion people market? Come build a factory here but you have to agree to disclose all your technologies and know-hows. That's how we quickly got so big on automobiles, highspeed rails, etc. etc. Same strategy is used in aviation. And we get more from Europe than from the U.S. But even so, to come to the point of building something like this for real still takes a lot of time and efforts. And I suspect that's why we didn't see it happen any sooner than this.

Kind of frightening this thing has gotten this far along and we just NOW find out about it...

In fact, there has been an ongoing wikipedia article on this aircraft for over 5 years. I think the fact that there is now an actual photo is what made this especially noteworthy.- Martin

They make everything else anyways.

I'm sure all this composites research will fall into the hands of their civil aviation industry as well. They have aircraft , just nothing competitive even in thier own market due to the weight.

Maybe... just maybe... this'll be the lifeline that helps get F-22 funding back on track somehow.

Although I really do like the F22 I always considered it the same sort of issue as Germany had with the Tiger Tank during WW2. By far the better machine, however expensive, too many resources to build, too much lead time to build one. Not enough of them to really be effective.If there is ever another global war the cheap and nasty fighters will be more effective, considering China's massive population. Getting them airborne fast would be the same sort of situation of the Sherman Tank VS the Tiger Tank.The Sherman was by far the worse tank compared to German Tanks, however there was so many of them that they won the war. All comes down to production numbers.Another good example was Canadian Navy Corvette fleet in WW2, They were called the 'Cheap and Nasty's' by Winston Churchill, and they were able to gain superiority in the North Atlantic due to their numbers, eventually eliminating the U-Boat threat faced by England. A Corvette is cheaper, easier and faster to produce compared to a U-Boat. And they were designed specifically to go after the U-Boat threat as effectively as possible. It worked.World War 2 was our last global conflict so there are many good examples of how things work as far as production and supply lines go. A global war with Asia would knock out so many electronics suppliers to the USA they would have to move quickly to resource and produce equivalent parts from other sources or at home. Even though the F22 is a domestic product so many other items used in production are dependant on foreign suppliers. No Manufacturing process is entirely domestic as the machines and materials used to build the products are sourced from all over the world. The challenge will be getting US industry back into full domestic production and producing aircraft quickly enough to stay in the game.China has that advantage, as their production and sourcing are probably mostly already domestic. They have enough natural resources and manpower to supply themselves. Remember all the Aircraft used by the USA at the start of World War 2 became mostly obsolete within the first 2 years of the war. Most of the aircraft used at the end of World War 2 was designed specifically for that conflict as soon as they knew what they needed to win the air war. I think the same thing would happen all over again if another global conflict where to break out. Everything flying today would become obsolete very quickly and the need for other types of equipment would be identified in order to fight the future, unknown battlefield. Higher Tech has proven to not work in the past. You can’t produce quickly enough to be effective.

But ask yourself: why would China need or want a short-range stealth aircraft? Any targets with defenses that call for that capability are a long way from the mainland.

Two reasons, Taiwan and Vietnam. They've always wanted Taiwan back and there maybe trouble brewing with regards to the Mekong and the damning thereof.