China's new stealth fighter may use US technology

[CarlV]

(01-23) 09:15 PST BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) --
Chinese officials recently unveiled a new, high-tech stealth fighter that could pose a significant threat to American air superiority — and some of its technology, it turns out, may well have come from the U.S. itself.

Nighthawks were the world's first stealth fighters, planes that were very hard for radar to detect. But on March 27, 1999, during NATO's aerial bombing of Serbia in the Kosovo war, a Serbian anti-aircraft missile shot one of the Nighthawks down. The pilot ejected and was rescued.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/23/international/i004036S91.DTL#ixzz1CAXTwhIE


Engineer gets 32 years for military secrets sale

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/23/national/a100011S09.DTL#ixzz1CAaEPXyX

(01-24) 20:30 PST HONOLULU, (AP) --

A former B-2 stealth bomber engineer was sentenced to 32 years in prison Monday for selling military secrets to China in the latest of several high-profile cases of Chinese espionage in the U.S.

A federal jury in Honolulu found Gowadia helped China design a cruise missile exhaust nozzle that would give off less heat, allowing the missile to evade infrared radar detection and U.S. heat-seeking missiles.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/23/national/a100011S09.DTL#ixzz1CAX6DkN3




For some reason these two articles together struck me as humorous first thing this morning.



Carl

[finnbow]

I'd say it was only a matter of time before the Chinese and Soviets developed their own stealth aircraft. One would like to think that, as the original developers, we also have a leg up on detection of airborne stealth aircraft.

[piece-itpete]

Hang him.

Plus Finn that's old technology. The new planes are probably so stealthy the pilots have a hard time finding them :)

Pete

[Combwork]

Engineer gets 32 years for military secrets sale

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/23/national/a100011S09.DTL#ixzz1CAaEPXyX





For some reason these two articles together struck me as humorous first thing this morning.



Carl

I would say that if anyone can reverse engineer anything, it's the Chinese. They maybe needed a little help at first, but only a little. Does anyone know where the first Stealth aircraft came from? Germany. In the closing stages of WW2 they built two prototype aircraft that were all but invisible to radar. They tested one by towing it behind a bomber; the bomber threw back a signal, the prototype did not. The Americans are said to have got hold of the other one, flatly disbelieved it could do what it was claimed to do, put it up on a gantry and under ideal conditions (stationary target) fired a radar beam at it and got no reflection.

I don't know whether the surface material somehow absorbed it, or reflected it at such a wild angle that the bounced signal wasn't detected.

If the Germans had not been hamstrung by political infighting and fear of Hitler, what are the chances they might have won WW2?

[finnbow]

If the Germans had not been hamstrung by political infighting and fear of Hitler, what are the chances they might have won WW2?

I'd say that if they had limited their aggression to the Western Front, they could have won. Taking on Russia mano a mano was a losing proposition.

[piece-itpete]

We agree finn! :clap:

Pete

[merrylander]

The thing we need to worry about is GE Aviation selling to China because from all reports the Chinese can't build reliable jet engines.

[whell]

If this is a pic of the J-20, which was published by the UK mail, it looks like attempts to incorporate stealth technology were only partially successful:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/11/article-0-0CA55C7E000005DC-46_634x286.jpg

Looks at the difference between the J-20 and the F-117. The stealth attributes of the F-117 come from its surface materials, but also from its shape.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/24/article-1349906-0CE26454000005DC-565_634x286.jpg

Maybe much adieu about nuttin'?

[whell]

OK. It does look a bit like the F-22, but the Chinese version looks A LOT bigger:

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f22/f22_09.jpg

[CarlV]

The thing we need to worry about is GE Aviation selling to China because from all reports the Chinese can't build reliable jet engines.



General Electric to sign 5 deals with China
GE Energy signed a joint venture with Shenhua Group Corp. Tuesday to develop coal gasification technologies in China. The subsidiary will also work with China Huadian Corp. to develop more natural gas power generation.

General Electric expects the sale of at least 50 gas-turbine generators in China over the next five years.

GE Aviation and Aviation Industry Corp. of China will develop and market avionics systems, including China's first large, homegrown passenger jet.

General Electric signed a letter of intent with China's Ministry of Railways to provide $350 million worth of U.S.-built locomotives, locomotive subassembly kits, service support and signaling systems for China's railway upgrade.
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/01/19/general_electric_to_sign_5_deals_with_china/


Shenhua_Group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenhua_Group)

Now how many GE engineers can they buy on the side out of this caper? :p


Carl

[CarlV]

I forgot the best part, we have according to this article 2 billion, 45 billion, and 1 billion, so 48 billion total I guess? That is less than the interest we pay them for 1 year. :D

Interest on a loans/debt purchases that would have never been without the reconciliation tax breaks for the rich. :(



Carl

[Charles]

If this is a pic of the J-20, which was published by the UK mail, it looks like attempts to incorporate stealth technology were only partially successful:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/11/article-0-0CA55C7E000005DC-46_634x286.jpg

Looks at the difference between the J-20 and the F-117. The stealth attributes of the F-117 come from its surface materials, but also from its shape.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/24/article-1349906-0CE26454000005DC-565_634x286.jpg

Maybe much adieu about nuttin'?

Check out the gangplank on that tub!!!

The exhaust doesn't look very stealthy either.

Chas

[merrylander]

Size is a definite drawback, probably as manouverable as a three legged elephant.

[Charles]

Size is a definite drawback, probably as manouverable as a three legged elephant.

Every since the Krauts went out of business, the US has produced the finest combat aircraft in the world.

Then again, we put the ex-Krauts on the payroll. Wonder how many worked for Kelly Johnson?

Chas

[finnbow]

Every since the Krauts went out of business, the US has produced the finest combat aircraft in the world.

Then again, we put the ex-Krauts on the payroll. Wonder how many worked for Kelly Johnson?

Chas

Chas - Have you ever been to the Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Pat in Dayton. Awesome place.

How 'bout you, Pete?

[Charles]

Chas - Have you ever been to the Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Pat in Dayton. Awesome place.

How 'bout you, Pete?

Naw.

Should have visited the Confederate Air Force when I lived in Harlington TX, but I didn't realize what they had at the time.

Chas

[finnbow]

I wonder if it's tough flying a plane wearing spurs.

[piece-itpete]

Lmao! No, never been. I should, it's only about 4 hours, but between records cars and beer I just don't get out very much. :)

Pete