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MAKS: Chinese firm unveils new sensors for J-20, J-31
- 26 AUGUST, 2015
- BY: STEPHEN TRIMBLE
- MOSCOW
A privately-owned Chinese sensor company has unveiled a suite of air-to-air and air-to-ground sensors in development for the latest Chinese and Russian fighters.
Wang Yanyong, technical director for Beijing A-Star Science and Technology, confirms that two systems – the EOTS-89 electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) and the EORD-31 infrared search and track (IRST) – are in development for China’s J-20 and J-31 fighters.
Marketing brochures on A-Star’s booth suggest that the J-20 could use the passive sensors to detect and aim missiles against the Northrop Grumman B-2 bomber and Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter, even while its radar is being being jammed by a Boeing EA-18G Growler. It lists detection ranges for the B-2 at 150km and for the F-22 at up to 110km.
Both systems have completed ground testing in a laboratory, and are now ready to enter flight testing, he says. Chinese combat aircraft manufacturer AVIC is considering integrating the sensors on a testbed aircraft, then could decide to test them on the J-20 and J-31, he says. Operational status is at least a year away for both sensors and possibly longer, Yanyong adds.
A-Star exhibited the systems at MAKS in hopes of attracting buyers from Russian and Commonwealth of Independent States countries, he says.
Beijing tech show highlights advances in Chinese fighter sensors
Richard D Fisher Jr, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
20 July 2015
A-Star's EOTS-86 appears to be similar to the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) that equips the Lockheed Martin F-35. Source: Via Top81 web page
China's Jiangsu A-Star Aviation Industries Company (A-Star) used the first Beijing exhibition promoting "civil-military integration" to reveal new combat aircraft electro-optical systems, some of which may be slated for the country's fifth-generation fighters.
A-Star's booth featured images of a Shenyang Aircraft Corporation J-31 fifth-generation export fighter to highlight two electro-optical systems, although it is not clear that A-Star's systems will equip future developments of this fighter, revealed as the FC-31 at the November 2014 Zhuhai Air Show.
A-Star's EORD-31 appears to be a conventional infrared search and tracking (IRST) system but with a faceted sensor dome; and the claimed ability to detect a F-22. (Via Top81 web page)
The EOTS-89 resembles the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) of the Lockheed Martin F-35, which combines Forward Looking Infrared and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) capabilities. The similarity includes the use of two tracking mirrors and a flat-facetted optical window, with bottom fuselage placement just aft the radar radome. Such a system was so placed on the large mock-up of the FC-31 seen in November 2014.
The AUEODS system by A-Star uses two wingtip mounted pods that combine a domed IRST with a conventional targeting pod. (Via Top81 web page)
Shown placed on the front starboard side of the J-31 canopy, A-Star's EORD-31 serves as an IRST, similar to the OLS-27 series used by the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter. However, instead of a spherical dome cover, the EORD-31 is flat and facetted. Chinese press reports claimed the system may be able to detect a Lockheed Martin F-22A at 110 km and a Boeing B-2 at 150 km.
Also on display was an image of A-Star's "AUEODS" system, which uses TX-S55 and TX-S56 pods which combine a conventional targeting pod with an over or under-mounted domed IRST. These two pods were shown on a Su-27 on the wingtip position taken by SORBITSYA electronic warfare pods.
A promotional image from A-Star indicated that its new F-80 medium range air-to-air missile may have a ground attack capability. (Via Top81 web page)
Chinese press reports claimed it can detect targets out to 200 km, or 70 km for the F-22A and 120 km for the B-2. The reports also claim it can detect a Tomahawk cruise missile out to 18 km.
A-Star used the 2014 Zhuhai Air Show to reveal its F-80 medium-range air-to-air missile with a unique five flat facet for its infrared/imaging seeker. While its range has not yet been disclosed, A-Star used the recent Beijing exhibition to indicate it has a ground-attack capability.
A-Star's EORD-31 IRST uses a unique faceted sensor dome. (Via Top81 web page)
A-Star's range of products also includes the five-seat German Extra EA-400 turboprop powered light aircraft, obtaining co-production rights in 2013.
Lawmaker: Chinese J-31, J-20 ‘Mirror’ American F-35, F-22
TOPICS:
F-22F-35J-20J-31
POSTED BY:
BRENDAN MCGARRY SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
A U.S. senator asked Pentagon officials why the government hasn’t retaliated against China for copying the designs of its most advanced fighter jets.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, said the Chengdu J-20 twin-engine stealth fighter bears similarity to the
F-22 Raptor made by Lockheed Martin Corp., while the Shenyang J-31 twin-engine multi-role fighter resembles the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter design also made by Lockheed.
“What they’ve been able to do in such a rapid period of time without any R&D, do you believe that that gives them a competitive advantage?” Manchin said on Tuesday during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on cybersecurity.
“I mean, I understand there might be some differences as far as in the software and the weaponry and this and that,” he added. “But they’re making leaps, which are uncommon, at the behest of us, and we know this, I understand, but we’re not taking any actions against them.”
Manchin posed the question to James Clapper, director of national intelligence; Robert Work, deputy defense secretary; and Navy Adm. Michael Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency.
Work acknowledged that the Chinese “have stolen information from our defense contractors and it has helped them develop systems.” But he said, “we have hardened our systems.”
On Friday, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to refrain from electronic theft of each other’s intellectual property for commercial gain. on Tuesday, Work was careful to characterize the agreement as a “confidence-building measure.”
“We are asking them to prove to us that they are serious about what they say about what they will do to control these efforts,” Work said.
Manchin didn’t seem convinced that the pact would substantially change Chinese behavior in cyberspace.
“I’m saying we know the J-20 is pretty much mirroring our F-22,” Manchin said. “We know that their J-31 is pretty much mirroring our F-35. We we know this and the cost to the American taxpayers … why wouldn’t we take hard actions against them? I just don’t understand why we wouldn’t retaliate from a financial standpoint.”
Work replied, “There are a wide variety of cost imposition options that we have. They’re developed through the inter-agency and, again, it’s not necessarily tit for tat. It is proportional response and we’re working through all of those right now.”
Clapper then reminded the panel that the Chinese actions in cyberspace amount to cyber-espionage.
“Of course, we too practice cyberespionage,” Clapper said. “In a public forum, I won’t say how successful we are at it, but we’re not bad at it. When we talk about what are we going to do to counter espionage, to punish somebody, or retaliate, I at least think it’s a good idea to think about the old saw that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks.”
That comment didn’t sit well with the committee’s chairman, Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona.
“So it’s OK for them to steal our secrets that are most important, including our fighters, because we live in a glass house?” McCain asked. “That is astounding.”
Clapper replied, “I’m not saying it’s a good thing. I’m just saying that both nations engage in this.
