Range is not a strong point of the F-22 compared to the F-15s for the same reasons.
Engine-wise the J-20 is still a generation behind and will come close to the F100/F110 of the 80s at best.

What if the WS-15 approached F119 standard, how would that affect the J-20’s range from your previous estimate?

And which reason makes the F-22’s range not a strong point compared to F-15s, engine efficiency? :confused: I was under the impression the F-22’s blended wing gave greater fuel volume and its internal weapons lessened drag, improving range.

Oh yeah, forgot about that aircraft — yes that would most likely be 1034 then. Unless PLAAF has a thing for changing engines on prototype aircraft >_>

For chengdu at least, the 02 prototype of every new aircraft variant seems to be the static testbed yeah — we haven’t seen 1032 yet, nor 1034 I believe.

Gives it an unattractive humpback look now :-/

J-10B with WS-10A… 😀 😀 😀 (Pretty clear it’s WS-10, for skeptics. People, including myself have been watching the rear end of the J-10 for years and it was always Al-31. This engine is clearly different and correlates with the known nozzle of WS-10A.)

… Assuming it isn’t a PS. But I don’t think it is, doesn’t have that smell to it.

What’s wrong with dark grey? IMO much more menacing than boring white or light grey, that is my biggest peeve with PLAN ships, otherwise really smooth, elegant designs recently.

Dark grey like the USN looks great, and PLAN grey isn’t too exciting but looks pretty professional and sleek. Some of the newer Russian navy ships are alright too (not sure why they keep the orange/brown on their decks and surfaces though). I’m not certain what the AK looks like at present, but at one point it donned this:

😮

At best it looks unattractive, at worst it has the colouring of something you’d find at a junkyard 🙁
Unless it arose from staying at sea too long? But it doesn’t seem like corrosion. Anyway can’t judge taste in colour I s’pose.

Well Kuz has been around the world unlike poor rusting Varyag, so I think it’s ok :D.

Kuz is getting heavy refit itself, will be an interesting comparison with Varyag when completed.

Hope they give a better paint scheme…

Given her significantly more advanced sensor suite and the fact that the Chinese are building her into a pure carrier(space formerly occupied by Granit VLS has probably been used for hangar expansion), plus the fact that she’s essentially brand new, I’d say she IS in better shape than the Kuznetsov.

BTW, Russian ships are usually referred to as ‘he’, so the correct term would be ‘older brother’.:D

Any real information on where the Chinese plan to go from here? More Varyags? Or some CVF-sized supercarriers with steam catapults?:diablo:

Rumors are they have two conventionally powered CV’s building right now (no idea what stage, but one should be ahead of the other). Also current stance is they’ll have cats–we’ll see in a few years when they become unable to hide them anymore.