The 2K22 Tunguska (Russian: 2К22 "Тунгуска"; English: Tunguska) is a Russian tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon armed with a surface-to-air gun and missile system. It is designed to provide day and night protection for infantry and tank regiments against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles in all weather conditions. Its NATO reporting name is SA-19 "Grison"
The Chengdu J-20 (simplified Chinese: 歼-20; traditional Chinese: 殲-20) is a stealth, twinjet, fifth-generation fighter aircraft developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011, and entered initial operational capability phase in March 2017, according to state media.
In late December 2015, a new J-20 numbered 2101 was spotted; it is believed to be the low rate initial production (LRIP) version of the aircraft. That aircraft performed its maiden flight on 18 January 2016. At least six J-20s are in active service, with five tail numbers 78271-78275 identified. Another six were believed ready to be delivered by end of Dec 2016. On 9th March 2017, Chinese officials confirmed that the J-20 had entered service in the Chinese air force.
Characteristics:
The J-20 has a long and wide fuselage, with the chiseled nose section and a frameless canopy resembling that of the F-22 Raptor. Immediately behind the cockpit are low observable intakes. All-moving canard surfaces with pronounced dihedral are placed behind the intakes, followed by leading edge extensions merging into delta wing with forward-swept trailing edges. The aft section features twin, outward canted all-moving fins, short but deep ventral strakes, and conventional round engine exhausts.
One important design criterion for the J-20 describes high instability. This requires sustained pitch authority at a high angle of attack, in which a conventional tail-plane would lose effectiveness due to stalling. On the other hand, a canard can deflect opposite to the angle of attack, avoiding stall and thereby maintaining control. A canard design is also known to provide good supersonic performance, excellent supersonic and transonic turn performance, and improved short-field landing performance compared to the conventional delta wing design.
Leading edge extensions and body lift are incorporated to enhance performance in a canard layout. This combination is said by the designer to generate 1.2 times the lift of an ordinary canard delta, and 1.8 times more lift than an equivalent sized pure delta configuration. The designer claims such a combination allows the use of a smaller wing, reducing supersonic drag without compromising transonic lift-to-drag characteristics that are crucial to the aircraft's turn performance.
According to the Jamestown Foundation, the J-20 has the potential for development into a high performance stealth aircraft comparable to the F-22 Raptor, if given appropriate engines.
Engines:
Three types of engine will be used to test the capacity of J-20 in the development stage.
Shenyang WS-10 / Saturn AL-31
The prototype is believed to be initially powered by WS-10 and / or the AL-31F engines. China is currently working on an advanced domestic turbofan engine similar in performance to the Pratt & Whitney F119 coded WS-15, but there are also speculations that Saturn AL-31#117S engine may be used for the initial batch of the J-20. At the 2012 Zhuhai Air Show, Russia approached China in an unsuccessful bid to sell the Su-35, which included the 117S engines. According to the latest news, China and Russia signed a contract for 24 Su-35 in November, 2015. However, Chinese source stated that the design of J-20 is mature and it will not directly use 117S engine.
Xian WS-15
The production version of the J-20 is believed to be powered by the WS-15, a turbofan engine currently under development. According to Global Security, the engine core, composed of high pressure compressors, the combustion chamber, and high pressure turbines were successfully tested in 2005. An image of the core appeared in the 2006 Zhuhai Air Show.
Armament:
The main weapon bay is capable of housing both short and long-range air-to-air missiles (AAM) (PL-9, PL-12C/D &PL15 - PL-21).
Two smaller lateral weapon bays behind the air inlets are intended for short-range AAMs (PL-9). These bays allow closure of the bay doors prior to firing the missile, thus enhancing stealth.
Stealth:
Analysts noted that the J-20's nose and canopy use a similar stealth shaping design as the F-22, yielding similar signature performance in a mature design at the front, while the aircraft's side and axi-symmetric engine nozzles may expose the aircraft to radar. One prototype has been powered by WS-10G engines equipped with different jagged-edge nozzles and tiles for greater stealth.
Others have raised doubts about the use of canards on a low-observable design, stating that canards would guarantee radar detection and a compromise of stealth. However, canards and low-observability are not mutually exclusive designs. Northrop Grumman's proposal for the U.S. Navy's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) incorporated canards on a stealthy airframe. Lockheed Martin employed canards on a stealth airframe for the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program during early development before dropping them due to complications with aircraft carrier recovery. McDonnell Douglas and NASA's X-36 featured canards and was considered to be extremely stealthy. Radar cross-section can be further reduced by controlling canard deflection through flight control software, as is done on the Eurofighter.
The diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) enables an aircraft to reach Mach 2.0 with a simpler intake than traditionally required, and improves stealth performance by eliminating radar reflections between the diverter and the aircraft's skin. Analysts have noted that the J-20 DSI reduces the need for application of radar absorbent materials. Additionally, the "bump" surface reduces the engine's exposure to radar, significantly reducing a strong source of radar reflection.
It is interesting photos and videos module test autonomous combat anti-aircraft missile complex short-range 9K331MKM “Thor M2KM” placed on the helicopter deck of the frigate head “Admiral Grigorovich” Project 11356 held in the Black Sea in October 2016. Start anti-aircraft guided missiles 9M331M of autonomous combat unit of antiaircraft missile complex short-range 9K331MKM “Thor M2KM” placed on the helicopter deck of the frigate head “Admiral Grigorovich” Project 11356 October 2016 (c) JSC “Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant” Kupol “/ frame video of the TV channel “Russia 24” (via altyn73.livejournal.com)
AG1
According to the information of JSC “Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant” Dome “, the main objective of the test was to evaluate practice opportunities” Tor-M2KM “in the interests of the Navy. Tests have given a lot of information on the impact of marine conditions on the military operation “Tor-M2” and confirmed the broad possibilities of using autonomous combat unit “Tor-M2KM”. Start anti-aircraft guided missiles 9M331M of autonomous combat unit of anti-aircraft missile complex short-range 9K331MKM “Thor M2KM” placed on the helicopter deck of the head of the frigate “Admiral Grigorovich” project 11356. October 2016 (c) JSC “Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant” Kupol “/ frame video of the TV channel “Russia 24” (via altyn73.livejournal.com) Reportage TV channel “Russia 24”
Description: The Almaz-Antey Concern improved Tor-M2 (Tor-M2KM or Tor-M2M ???) is a low-to-medium altitude, short-range air defense system featuring increased precision against small and highly maneuverable targets such as cruise missiles and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). The improved Tor-M2/Tor-M2KM is equipped with 16 9M338 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) which feature extended range and higher accuracy compared with its predecessor the 9M331 missile. The Tor-M1 and Tor-M2 air defense systems each carried only eight 9M331 missiles. Therefore the 9M338 is smaller in size but at the same time delivers a greater range. The improved Tor-M2 is intended to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets. Current Tor systems need to stop for two-to-three seconds in order to launch a 9M331 missile. The new missile system could acquire and fire to a target while on the move. This new missile system was successfully tested at the end of October 2013. The Russian Army could field the improved Tor-M2/Tor-M2KM in 2014 or 2015.
The Tor-M2KM short-range air defense system can be mounted on a variety of platforms such as wheeled or tracked chassis as well as rooftops and railway cars. This air defense system can simultaneously detect 48 targets, track up to ten targets and engage four of them at the same time.
