China has been busy upgrading its military hardware in the past couple of years. Chief to this innovation is the highly secretive project to develop the J-20, a stealth jet fighter which many military experts and observers have noted as one of the best in the world. While many applauded the jet's revolutionary features, many have pointed out that what sets this set apart from most of its counterparts is its new jet engine technology.
While the United States and Russia have been at the cutting edge of jet engine technology, China is posing to be a major player at this particular niche of military hardware. China's new jet engine technology is said to give its jet fighters better combat capability.
This revolutionary technology is dubbed only as thrust vector control. Part of this new technology is a movable thrust nozzle which gives a fixed-wing jet fighter to change its direction through the engine's exhaust. By employing this new technology, it will allow jet fighters to easily raise its nose cone vertically without sacrificing forward momentum. Ideally, the plane can effectively sit on its own tail even in an aerodynamic stall which is caused by a high angle of attack and at a relatively slow speed.
By using this revolutionary technology, a jet fighter will gain extensive boost on its maneuverability. This allows the jet fighter to be more agile and gives it more advantage when it comes to aerial combat, especially during dogfights in close range.
One of the first jet fighters to employ such technology was the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier attack plane. At its prime, the jet is capable of VTOL, or Vertical Takeoff/Landing, capability. A revolutionary technology at that time.
China's newest jet engine technology was officially declassified last week, during the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, more commonly known as the Zhuhai Air Show. Taking the stage, China flaunted a J-10B jet fighter from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, a state-owned company. The jet fighter, equipped with the latest jet engine technology, highlighted its capabilities by performing physics-defying aerobatic stunts during the expo's opening ceremony.
Dubbed as the "Pugachev's Cobra," the J-10B has an impressive aerial maneuverability. The jet fighter got its nickname from the way it attacks, which many observers noted is closely similar to that of a cobra. This maneuver also allows the aircraft to easily evade enemy aircraft, as well as missiles. It is also capable of sneaking behind an enemy aircraft an engage in close combat dogfights.
