India and China are the two major military powers in Asia and have procured and developed some of the best weapon platforms available today for their defense forces. China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) deployed its latest fighter, the Chengdu J-20, in February 2018, which it claims is stealth and the most advanced fighter in the whole of Asia. However, the Indian Air Force’s topline fighter Sukhoi Su-30 MKI has been able to “see” the Chengdu J-20 over Tibet despite the latter using stealth technology. According to IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, the Su-30MKI radar detected and tracked the Chengdu J-20 jet while the latter was flying over Tibet.
The Su-30MKI currently carries the N011M Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar, but the IAF is already in the process of upgrading the fighters with the more advanced Lean Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which will make it even tougher Will make Chengdu J-20 to hide. While China says the Chengdu J-20 is a “fifth generation” fighter, its stealth and supercruise capabilities are in doubt.
Here’s a look at the features and capabilities of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI and the Chengdu J-20:
Sukhoi Su-30 MKI: IAF’s twin-seater multirole fighter aircraft is a product of Indo-Russian joint venture Between Sukhoi Design Bureau and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Su-30 MKI is 21.9 meters long, 6.4 meters high and has a wingspan of 14.7 metres. The maximum take-off weight is 38,800 kg.
Powered by two Al-31FP turbojet engines, the Sukhoi-30 MKI can reach a maximum speed of 2120 kilometers per hour (Mach 1.9) and climb at a rate of 300 meters per second. The fighter has a fly-by-wire flight control system and a range of 3,000 km without refueling. With the in-flight refueling system, its combat range increases to 8,000 km. The Su-30 MKI has a cruising altitude of 11 to 13 kilometres.
Its two pilots sit inside a tandem glass cockpit equipped with an integrated avionics suite comprising the Elbit Su 967 head-up display (HUD), seven active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) and primary cockpit instrumentation. The aircraft also has a multifunction display (MFD), while the rear cockpit has a monochromatic display screen for air-to-ground missile guidance.
Currently, the Su-30 MKI carries the N011M PESA radar which will soon be replaced by the more advanced Lean AESA radar. The aircraft also carries the OLS-30 laser-optical locator system and the Lightening target designation pod for guiding air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided munitions.
The Su-30 MKI is one of the most heavily armed fighter aircraft in the world today. IAF modifies 40 Su-30 MKIs to carry supersonic BrahMos Cruise Missile. The fighter is armed with a 30mm Gsh-30-1 cannon and 12 hardpoints capable of carrying missiles and bombs. The aircraft also has wave radar warning receivers and jammers for electronic warfare.
Chengdu J-20: this is a Single-seat, multirole stealth fighter For air-to-air, air-to-ground combat roles with supersonic cruise speed and integrated avionics, which was first tested on January 11, 2011. The jet developed and manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG). It is 20.3–20.5 m long, has a height of 4.45 m and a wingspan of 12.88–13.50 m. The maximum take-off weight is 34,000–37,000 kg. The fighter has a range of about 1,200 km which can be extended up to 2,700 km with external fuel tanks.
While the J-20 is currently powered by the Russian AL-31 engine, China is working in a new and more powerful WS-15 (Emei) afterburning turbofan engine for the fighter for sustained supersonic speeds. The aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of 2,100 kilometers per hour (about Mach 1.8) and has a rate of climb of 304 meters per second.
There are two lateral bays with four hardpoints each for air-to-air missiles while there is a large bay under the fuselage to carry missiles and other weapons. It also has an internal cannon. It is equipped with AESA radar as well as chin-mounted infrared/electro-optic search and track sensors. The Chinese also claim that the J-20 has a passive electro-optical detection system that gives the pilot 360° coverage. The fighter, which has a glass cockpit with a bubble-shaped canopy, can access real-time data from Chinese military satellites, Divine Eagle anti-stealth unmanned aerial vehicles and other airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems.
The J-20 cockpit has two liquid crystal displays (LCD) and a head-up display (HUD). The J-20 can be operated via a conventional Hands-on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) system.