The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
The Chinese F-22 Being Built
by James Dunnigan
June 14, 2005
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
China is developing an aircraft designed to match, or at least approach, the
performance of the American F-22. Models are undergoing wind tunnel tests in
preparation of the construction of a prototype. The aircraft will use warplane
technology China has developed, bought or stolen in the last decade. The Chinese
plan to use two of their own WS10A engines in the new aircraft, referred to as
the J13. In fact, all of the technology going into the aircraft is expected to
be Chinese. For that reason, the J13 won’t enter service for another decade, at
least. This project demonstrates the Chinese resolve to develop a world class
military aircraft industry, something they have been working on energetically
since the 1980s. The J13 won't be a match for the F-22, but it will be the
closest the Chinese have ever come, and an example of how they are closing the
technology gap.
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