China’s Chengdu J-20 Fighter Redesigned Using Stolen F-35 Data

[unhappycamper]

http://www.bidnessetc.com/24530-chinas-chengdu-j20-fighter-redesigned-using-stolen-f35-data/



China’s Chengdu J-20 Fighter Redesigned Using Stolen F-35 Data
By: Sam Quest
Published: August 22, 2014 at 10:50 am EST

China has been developing a native fifth-generation stealth aircraft called the Chengdu J-20. This aircraft is expected to compete with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is built by Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) as well as Russia’s T-50.

A Chinese entrepreneur was arrested for stealing F-35 and F-22 fighter jets’ design data. The stolen data was meant to help in redesigning the J-20, and has increased the likelihood of F-35 fighter jets to become obsolete even before they became operational. F-35 jets are a part of the most expensive program by US Department of Defense to date.

The first prototype of the J-20 fighter was released in 2011, after which the development of the aircraft has been remarkably quick. On July 26, the fourth prototype was reported to have flown for two hours before making a successful landing. All the revised prototypes of the J-20 saw major changes in the design of the planes with enhanced stealth capabilities, such as modified planes’ wingspan, and air intake designs. All these design improvements are believed to be driven by the stolen F-35 and F-22 design data.

An Asian Government official was reported to have said that around 20 fully-functional J-20s are expected to be operational before the end of the decade. With a strike range of roughly 1,000 nautical miles, these jets will allow the Chinese Air Force to access airfields of countries that China has economic or territorial tensions with, including Japan, Vietnam, and Philippines.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Surely they'll regret it. Isn't the F35 that major boondoggle

that's been sucking down billions for years, and can't go even 6 hours of tests without major maintenance?

Who would want to steal info on that expensive piece of crap?