蒙克, 中国隐形战机对美有何威胁？ BBC Chinese, Jan 12, 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2011/01/110112_analysis_j20_westmedia.shtml
("《洛杉矶时报》文章指出，歼-20真正的威胁是：让美国能为进一步增加已经十分庞大国防预算提供理由。安德鲁·考克本（Andrew Cockburn）的文章指出，就在美国军方冷战后没有敌手，但同时又要为大量投资发展高科技武器惴惴不安的时候，突然在中国成都出现了能够躲避雷达的、和美国f-22相仿的新型战机 [omitting several paragraphs])
My comment: The comment refers to
Andrew Cockburn, China Stealth Jet Is No Reason to Boost U.S. Defense Spending. The warplane could be decisively superior, some experts have said. But another arms race is unnecessary, especially over a plane whose capabilities are untested. Los Angeles Times, Jan 12, 2011.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/12/opinion/la-oe-0112-cockburn-threat-inflation-20110112
(a) 米格-25 “狐蝠” Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-25
(NATO reporting name: Foxbat; Introduced 1970; Number Built 1,190; A top speed of Mach 2.83+, a powerful radar and four air-to-air missiles, worried U.S. observers and prompted development of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle in late 1960s)
(b) General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111_Aardvark
(Introduced 1967; The F-111 pioneered several technologies for production military aircraft including variable-sweep wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated terrain following radar for low-level, high-speed flight)
It eats termites and ants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark
(ii) Variable-sweep wing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-sweep_wing
Quote:
"Typically, a swept wing is more suitable for high speeds, while an unswept wing is suitable for lower speeds
"A number of successful and experimental designs were introduced from the 1940s into the 1970s, however, the recent advances in flight control technology and structural materials has allowed designers to closely tailor the aero-dynamics and structure of aircraft, removing the need for variable geometry to achieve the required performance.
(c) Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-117_Nighthawk
(Introduced 1983; Retired 2008; photo caption: Canopy of F-117 shot down in Serbia in March 1999 at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade)
---------------------------------Separately
(1) In contrast to retired admiral James A Lyons, US top brass has professed--at least outwardly-- serenity about supposedly new developments of China's military capability--specifically, J-20 and anti-ship ballistic missile.
Karen Parrish, Mullen Cites Strategic Importance of China-U.S. Relationship. American Forces Press Service, Department of Defense, Jan 12, 2011.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62427
Quote:
"'I know they have their own challenges, and … the Chinese have every right to develop the military that they want, as the United States does,' he said. 'We develop our capability to protect our interest.'
"Many Chinese capabilities, including stealth aircraft and anti-satellite and anti-ship weapons, 'seem to be focused very specifically on the United States,' the chairman said.
(2) Yuka Hayashi and Julian E. Barnes, Gates Leaves Beijing, Will Press Japan to Expand Its Defense Role. Wall Street Journal, Jan 13, 2011.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704803604576077412162707724.html
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates "suggested Tuesday he would make a case for Japan's purchase of a new generation of fighter jets, the first public comments by a U.S. official pushing for such a deal. Mr. Gates didn't name a specific fighter but if the Japanese want a stealth capability they would need to buy F-35s, developed by an international consortium led by Lockheed Martin Corp.
My comment:
(a) There is no need to read the rest.
(b) Bradley Perrett, Bidders Await Japanese F-X RFP. Aviation Week, Oct 17, 2010.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2010/11/17/04.xml&headline=Bidders%20Await%20Japanese%20F-X%20RFP
RFP stands for "request for proposal." See paragraph 1.
I have not heard of F-X but it appears it is a code name for Japan to purchase FOREIGN fighter jet, ratyher than making indeginous ones. This report said, "Whichever type is chosen, it is now certain that Japanese production of jet fighters will be suspended in 2011, after 56 years, when the last Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-2 is completed."
It seems to me that Mr Gates tries not to be forceful in pushing F-35 to Japan, because the latter might be considering European jets.