To quote the late Carl Sagan: "Well...maybe."

[astroprisoner]

Chinese stealth fighter jet may use US technology

It seems a very neat and tidy explanation: the Chinese acquired bits of a shot-down F-117A Nighthawk, and reverse engineered it into their own stealth fighter. Except that personally I doubt it.

For starters, this theory seems to overlook the fact that there's really very little resemblance between

Comments

[hyperdyne]

most interesting thing I've read on LJ in a long time.

HT!

[reality_hammer]

I read the stories and thought "so...in 10 years the Chinese might have something we had 20 years ago".

That's so Mig-25! :P

I'd be surprised if it was as stealthy as the F-35. Or the Russian T-50.

[bowler]

The F-19 model was actually based off of some images/blueprints in an ancient (we're talking 1970's ancient) issue of National Geographic discussing the amazing advances in American Aviation and the future of air combat. I remember thumbing over it again and again because it looked so amazing. It was my most favorite issue ever. I'd never forget what that plane looked like.

Also, the issue also had the first smart optic targeting system seen today on Apache Gunships and Smart Bombs.

WAY ahead of its time.