China's development of stealth fighter takes U.S. by surprise

[Hazcat]

The emergence of what is said to be a prototype jet, along with news of advances on an anti-ship missile, raises concerns about China's military intentions and the threat it poses to the U.S. in the Pacific.

By Ken Dilanian, Los Angeles Times

January 7, 2011

Reporting from Washington —
A few weeks ago, grainy photos surfaced online showing what several prominent defense analysts said appeared to be a prototype of a Chinese stealth fighter jet that could compete with the best of America's warplanes, years ahead of U.S. predictions.

Days later, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet disclosed that a long-awaited Chinese anti-ship missile, designed to sink an American aircraft carrier, was nearly operational.

As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates heads to China this weekend, analysts are expressing concern about Chinese military advances, which appear to have taken the U.S. by surprise. The Pentagon had predicted that China wouldn't have a stealth fighter for a decade or more and Defense officials had given no previous indication the anti-ship missile, which had long been tracked by the U.S., was close to fruition.

--SNIP--

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-military-20110107,0,3324067.story?om_rid=MMBIx0&om_mid=_BNJxIvB8XEExMK

Picture at link

[ratcatcher55]

I would say that headline is wrong. We knew about it for awhle.

http://www.warisboring.com/2011/01/06/the-diplomat-chinas-over-hyped-stealth-jet/

There is some question if it is an attack fighter or interceptor.

If you look at the website there are some nice photo's

[JC5123]

Nice to know how all of the U.S. Treasury "junk" bonds are being spent. 

[Ichiban]

I'd say we've know about it for quite awhile... say 2002.
http://www.janes.com/media--old/releases/pc021211_1.shtml

[mosbear]

At the end of the 90th China got the rights to manufacture SU -37 aircraft, but without the know-how for the engine.
The so called surprise is a result of this, and looks like a cross between the SU-37 ( canards) and latest SU-T50. The problem for the Chinese is they don't have an adequate engine to fly the aircraft of this nature, and Russia is not going to supply them with the latest designs. IMHO, this one is good for taxiing on the ground. Till they get the advanced engine technology they are not really a threat. It's very easy to reverse engineer the toys and electronic gadgets, the jet engines are quite an opposite.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

At the end of the 90th China got the rights to manufacture SU -37 aircraft, but without the know-how for the engine.
The so called surprise is a result of this, and looks like a cross between the SU-37 ( canards) and latest SU-T50. The problem for the Chinese is they don't have an adequate engine to fly the aircraft of this nature, and Russia is not going to supply them with the latest designs. IMHO, this one is good for taxiing on the ground. Till they get the advanced engine technology they are not really a threat. It's very easy to reverse engineer the toys and electronic gadgets, the jet engines are quite an opposite.

Mosbear brings up a good point, Jet engines require some very tight tolerances. China has a very limited capability to hold tolerances that are common in most US shops.