Key Points and Summary on J-20 and No Gun – China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” unlike its American F-22 counterpart, was designed without an internal cannon, a deliberate choice reflecting its specific mission.
-The J-20 is not a close-range dogfighter but a long-range interceptor, built to leverage stealth and advanced beyond-visual-range missiles like the PL-15 to destroy high-value assets like refueling tankers and AWACS aircraft.
-According to former F-22 pilot Lt. Col. David Berke, the Chinese “want to avoid a dogfight at all costs.” This design philosophy, however, carries the risk of leaving the J-20 vulnerable if forced into a close-quarters engagement.
J-20s Don’t Have Guns, Will Avoid Dogfighting
China has built some intriguing aircraft, but we must question its decision on the new airframe. The J-20 stealth fighter doesn’t have a gun. That could be a problem for their air force if forced into a dogfighting scenario with the United States’ stealth fighters.
At the Zhuhai air show in November 2018, a pair of J-20s opened their weapons bays in full view of the crowd, confirming the lack of a gun. Each fighter carried one PL-10 short-range air-to-air missile in each side bay, plus four long-range PL-15 missiles in the centerline bay.
The PL-10 is the equivalent of the US AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. The PL-15 is similar to the American Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM.
The US F-22 Raptor stealth fighter features a similar setup for its weapons bays, but its centerline bay is slightly larger and can carry up to six missiles. However, the Raptor is equipped with an internally mounted M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannon, which carries 480 rounds.
The J-20 doesn’t have a cannon and represents the only fifth-generation fighter that doesn’t have a gun. So, while it is an outstanding aircraft in many respects, a potential big flaw could be an advantage for US stealth fighters.
China’s J-20 Is Not A Dogfighter
The J-20’s lack of a gun shows that the Chinese “People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) recognize that being in a dogfight is not a mission that they’re building for,” retired US Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Berke, a former F-22 pilot and F-35B squadron commander, told Business Insider.
“They probably want to avoid a dogfight at all costs,” he added.
However, the J-20 was designed to avoid close-in dogfighting. The J-20, with its robust sensors, long-range missiles, and stealth design, poses a serious threat to US Air Force refueling, early warning, and other support planes.
Countering these logistical planes with J-20s could enable China to keep the US at arm’s length in a conflict.
“In air-to-air, the cannon serves one particular and limited purpose, only useful in a very predictable phase of flight, which is a dogfight,” Berke said.
“The Chinese probably recognize that [dogfights are] not where they want the airframe to be and that’s not the investment they want to make,” he added.
While guns are effective at extremely close range, the advantage of them is that electronic countermeasures can’t help. Neither can flares nor jamming degrade a gun’s performance.
And the Vulcan cannon isn’t reliant on the aircraft’s radar for its accuracy. Enemy countermeasures can jam radars. It is strictly the pilot’s skill in maneuvering the plane close to the enemy and unleashing the 20mm shells.
The J-20’s Missiles Are Very Good
With China’s intent to keep US fighters at a distance, their missiles have to be good, and they are. The J-20, like the F-35, can also operate in “beast mode.”
These two PLAAF missiles are forcing the United States to search for alternatives to its AMRAAMs. The US Air Force is concerned that PLAAF missiles, in aerial combat, could overwhelm an F-35 or F-22.
The shorter-range PL-10 air-to-air missile is a fourth-generation weapon. The PL-10 “adopts advanced infrared imaging guidance and can distinguish real enemy aircraft from fake target decoys. It can also be launched by a helmet sight worn by the pilot to achieve ‘seeing’ and ‘where to fight.’ Also, to effectively strike high maneuverability targets, the missile uses thrust vectoring technology,” according to GlobalSecurity.org.
The PL-15 has a more extended range than the AMRAAM, and its reduced radar signature makes it a formidable opponent. The dual-pulse rocket motor extends the PL-15’s range, resulting in high-speed attacks, wrote Dr. Brent Eastwood.
The USAF Learned Its Lesson In Vietnam: Will the Chinese?
During the Vietnam War, the Air Force was losing too many Phantom Jets due to a lack of guns. They later equipped the Phantoms with guns. Today, nearly all fighters carry guns. The J-20 is the exception.
The USAF learned the hard way. Will China?
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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