The western defense media has outdone itself. I assumed that some articles would come out about the first su 57 being officially delivered to the Russian air force. But their cowardice and butthurt can never be under estimated. They know this happened. But they chose just not to not report it at all.
A new J-20 puff piece came out in the meantime though. And here is what it says
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38655/ten-years-ago-today-chinas-j-20-stealth-fighter-first-flew-a-two-seater-could-be-next
While the J-20 prototypes and early production batches were powered by Russian-supplied AL-31 turbofans, more recent J-20A aircraft use the indigenous WS-10.
Really ? Has there been any official statement to this effect ?
Today, Western sources estimate the number of J-20s built by the end of 2019 as around 50,
Western sources estimate ? Unlike Russia, there is no official numbers on this from China. None. Zilch. Nada.
Unconfirmed Chinese reports suggest that a production capacity of 48 aircraft annually, but there is no evidence that that figure has been attained
Its 2021 now. So they are sorta kinda implying that there could be 80 to 100 of them now. All with the WS-10 engine.
Equally importantly, the J-20 has been incrementally improved while production continued. In a paper released last October, the Royal United Services Institute, or RUSI, think tank claimed that “subsequent developments are likely to increase its LO [low-observable] characteristics and sensor capabilities.”
Looks like the think tank racket is also in the business of hyping up the J-20. Even to the point where they are over estimating the whisper numbers that come out of China.
A
s for a two-seat version of the J-20, this would further set the aircraft apart from its closest counterparts, the American F-22 and F-35, and from the Russian Su-57 Felon, the latter of which is not yet in frontline service.
"Frontline" service now. So they know that the first su 57 has been officially and verifiably delivered to the Russian airforce. But its not doing sorties in Syria so I guess they will pretend that its not in service until then. Pathetic.
The achievements so far in China’s first stealth fighter program are impressive by any measure, but especially when one recalls that, when it first appeared, there was much Western skepticism that the J-20 was a credible design
Yeah. Especially when you believe everything the Chinese say, which isn't much. And also go out of your way to over estimate give topspin to the little that is actually known about the jet. Its all just hype to bury the su 57. Because there is something about the su 57 that they really gets them flustered.