Air tankers refuel F-35Bs during the U.S.-Japan “Noble Fusion” joint naval expeditionary exercise. Figure: Flip the US Air Force
According to a report by China’s authoritative military column “Privy Council No. 10” today (1), at the regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on March 31, the long-rumored “Sino-US stealth fighters fought in the East China Sea” Finally, there is an official response. China has not denied that the two fighter jets had “close contact” and is proud of the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) of Chinese fighter jets.
A reporter asked: “The commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Force recently said that the U.S. F-35 fighter jet had a close encounter with a Chinese J-20 fighter jet over the East China Sea recently. The J-20 fighter jet performed very professionally, and its command and control capabilities were impressive; Some ultra-remote air-to-air missiles have been assisted by the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and the U.S. side is very interested in breaking the Chinese side’s coordinated kill chain. What’s China’s comment on this?”
U.S. F-35B fighter map: Retrieved from F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office Twitter
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, director of the Information Bureau of China’s Ministry of National Defense and spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, said: “We have noticed the remarks of the United States. In recent years, the construction of Chinese military weapons and equipment, including the construction of the main combat equipment of the Air Force, has made great progress, but there are still many more. There is room for development, and China has a clear understanding of this.”
“For a long time, U.S. ships and planes have carried out large-scale and high-frequency close-in reconnaissance and provocative pressure on China, which has seriously damaged the mutual trust between the Chinese and American militaries, and seriously endangered the safety of both ships, planes and personnel. China is firmly opposed to this.”
Two weeks ago, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander Willsbach revealed in a video conversation at the U.S. Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics that U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jets have been in contact with Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets in the East China Sea. “Close Encounters”.
He spoke highly of the J-20’s performance from the opponent’s point of view: “We have seen relatively professional flying, as for what they (the Chinese Air Force) intend to do with the J-20, maybe it will be able to perform a variety of tasks. The F-35, perhaps more like the F-22 that is positioned for air superiority, is too early to say for sure.”
In the following ten days, the outside world has interpreted this “close encounter” between Chinese and American stealth fighters as “the first confrontation between stealth fighters belonging to the two countries.”
China’s Ministry of National Defense praised the performance of Chinese Air Force pilots in encountering U.S. fighter jets at the end of March.Figure: Retrieved from CCTV Military
According to Welsbach, the J-20’s flight movements are not only “professional”, but “we were impressed by the command and control system to which the J-20 belongs.” He also specifically mentioned the importance of the Air Police-500 early warning aircraft and the “Pili-15” remote air-to-air missile to the J-20, all of which suggest that the encounter between Chinese and American stealth fighters in the East China Sea may not be just an ordinary companion flight. Simple.
While praising the J-20 and KJ-500, Wellsbach lamented the serious aging of the E-3 early warning aircraft equipped by the US Air Force, “the sensors they are equipped with cannot play their true capabilities in the air combat of the 21st century. , especially against the J-20 or similar stealth platforms. The E-3s don’t have enough range to detect these targets, leaving friendly fighters unable to gain an advantage.”
The new E7 early warning aircraft will replace the old E3 early warning aircraft.Photo: Reprinted from Privy Council No. 10
Recently, the U.S. Air Force has listed a long list of main military aircraft that need to be retired, including the requirement to retire all E-3 early warning aircraft within two years. It’s even more incapable of dealing with stealth fighters like the J-20.
“The Privy Council on the 10th pointed out” the last sentence of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense “On the issue of safeguarding national sovereignty and security, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has always dared to show the sword and is good at showing it.” Respond positively. In the face of the blatant provocation of the US Air Force “to make the Chinese Air Force feel afraid”, Wang Wei made a domineering statement: “As long as you are not afraid, let us meet in the cloud.”
China J-20 is a fifth-generation fighter jet produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and equipped with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force. It adopts a single-seat, twin-engine, duck-type aerodynamic layout design.Image: Taken from Wikipedia
The J-20 fighter jet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.Figure: Retrieved from CCTV Military