In what appears to be a sustained effort at one-upping the US F-22 stealth aircraft, a team of Chinese researchers recently conducted a simulated aerial battle between the newly unveiled twin-seater J-20S and the US Raptor.
The aerial battle was strategically, but not surprisingly, set to the north of Taiwan, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
For years, military officials and analysts from both sides have predicted that a conflict between China and the United States triggered by the Chinese invasion of Taiwan would likely see a clash of the stealth fighters deployed by China and the US.
The simulation was conducted by a research team headed by Zhang Dong, an associate professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University, which is a major player in the study of cutting-edge military technologies.
Zhang’s team simulated air battles using a state-of-the-art digital system. “Our platform includes realistic six-degree-of-freedom models for real fighter jets in service, sensor models, and missile simulations, capable of replicating real-world manned-unmanned air combat,” they wrote.
The technological specifications of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft, including its radar prowess and stealth capabilities, were intentionally set lower than those of the Raptor. However, the Chinese aircraft prevailed in every combat scenario, with a victory percentage of a whopping 95%, according to the report.
This feat was attributed to the J-20’s capability to collaborate with two or three unmanned aircraft, or what is commonly known as loyal wingman drones. The drones were tasked with spotting the target, drawing fire from the F-22, and conducting multidirectional attacks, whereas the J-20 fighter jet delivered the last blow.
The development comes days after the PLA debuted the latest variant, ‘J-20S’, of their heavy stealth fighter at the China Airshow in Zhuhai. The J-20S is the first twin-seater stealth aircraft in the world and is said to have a special configuration where one pilot can focus on flight and weapons while the other can be free to manage communication and coordination with loyal wingman drones.
Earlier, a report from the Chinese state-owned publication Global Times claimed that the J-20S is more capable in terms of tactical command and control, electronic disruption, and situational awareness and has been designed for conducting both manned and unmanned collaborative combat.
Moreover, experts surmise that loyal wingman drones working in tandem with manned aircraft can augment their firepower even if they only have four to six ground-strike weaponry because each drone can carry four to ten precision-guided missiles. The report also mentions that a J-20 equipped with a drone swarm might perform early-warning missions and battlefield surveillance.
The Age Of Loyal Wingman Drones In Combat
The peer-reviewed paper written by Zhang and his team was published in the scholarly Chinese journal Systems Engineering and Electronics on November 20.
The team wrote, “Rapid advancements in information and drone technology have caused a paradigm shift in the landscape of modern air combat.” The paper further emphasized: “While there’s still a gap between drone autonomy and the demands of air combat, manned-unmanned collaboration offers a promising solution.”
Zhang’s study claimed that the two J-20S pilots have a lot of work to do: They have to combine information from satellites, warning aircraft, ground radars, and drones, evaluate battlefield conditions, assign targets to drones, and make snap judgments on whether to attack or defend.
The simulations also revealed that a single J-20 equipped with eight medium-range air-to-air missiles had a less than 10% chance of defeating an F-22 equipped with six AIM-120C missiles, according to simulations. The US jet’s radar had the advantage in detection even though the Chinese missiles had a greater range.
However, the addition of two drones shifted the balance, and when three were added, the J-20’s advantage increased to the point where it could win without even fighting, said the paper.
Having said that, the development and integration of loyal wingman drones is also taking place in full earnest in the United States, which has been experimenting with manned-unmanned teaming for several years. Currently, the US is evaluating options for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a type of loyal wingman drone, that will work alongside its fifth-get fighters and help achieve air superiority against the enemy. The USAF plans to spend over $6 billion on its CCA programs from 2023 to 2028.
Indian Air Force veteran and aviation expert, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retired) earlier explained the role of CCAs in a previous EurAsian Times report: “The principal application is elevating the role of human pilots to mission commanders, leaving AI to operate under their tactical control in relatively low-cost robotic craft. CCAs can perform other missions, such as sensors, shooters, weapons carriers, and much more. It will be a multi-role aircraft that could be modular to perform different tasks on different days.”
He added, “The CCA will have greater stealth and autonomy to perform missions, including EW and SEAD, and potentially act as decoys.”
The US is currently advancing work on the CCA, which is taking place in two phases, known as increments. The first increment is currently being developed by Anduril and General Atomics, both of which are anticipated to make their first flight next year. For Increment 2, the USAF anticipates launching a contest at some point during Fiscal Year 2025, which started on October 1. As previously reported by EurAsian Times, Lockheed Martin—the manufacturer of F-22 and F-35—is looking to enter the fray.
Not just that, a loyal wingman drone named ‘XQ-58A Valkyrie’ has already flown several flights in formation with the US Stealth fighters to test their manned-unmanned teaming compatibility.
In fact, the Chinese team also noted that the concept of a loyal wingman was conceived in the United States, as demonstrated by recent testing in which the XQ-58 Valkyrie drone successfully teamed with F-22 and F-35 aircraft.
However, they assertively stated that a significant obstacle to the concept, which is still in its experimental phases, is how a single pilot would control drones during combat. Thus, they subtly underscored the tactical advantage that a J-20S would enjoy against US stealth fighters.
EurAsian Times reached out to a PLA watcher and expert to understand whether the J-20S would indeed have a tactical advantage in combat owing to its two-person crew. The analyst, who did not want to be named, said, “It’s just one paper out of many that are published about air combat in the world,” stating that it is a gross exaggeration.
Air Marshal Chopra, on the other hand, told the EurAsian Times: “In a two-seater aircraft, the weapon station officer (WSO) will handle loyal Wingman drones, weapons, loitering munitions, EW, laser designation, etc.” However, he further added a caveat: “The second seat takes away a lot of space on the aircraft and can affect the total carriage of fuel and some weapons, or an internal gun. It will affect the quality of stealth.”
“But the advantages of having WSO for certain missions is important. So, I’d say that while China’s claims are not entirely true and don’t give its aircraft a clear tactical advantage in combat to the degree that it has a clear sweep, these claims should also not be dismissed,” the veteran added.
Having said that, the latest simulation once again reaffirms China’s infatuation with the F-22 Raptor and its sustained preparation against the mighty aircraft, which the United States describes as the best stealth aircraft in the world.
Western military watchers have termed China’s unwavering desire to develop technology to equal or exceed the capabilities of the powerful stealth fighter a clear indication of its obsession with the F-22 Raptor.
Chinese aviation advances have often been compared to the capabilities of the F-22, from claims to create advanced quantum radar systems to ground-to-air hypersonic missiles specifically made to defeat the F-22s.
Chinese analysts have long projected the J-20 as an answer to the US F-22 Raptors. The Raptor, for instance, is known for its super-maneuverability. Chinese scientists and officials have been working relentlessly on providing the J-20 with this capability, which will be crucial for the kinds of missions that the J-20 is anticipated to carry out.
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