• cornishon@lemmygrad.ml
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    17 hours ago

    The 3-4 years number is based on an optimistic projection where they pinky-promise they’ll have the fist flight by 2028. And that’s just the first flight watermark.

    China’s ability to bring its first fifth generation fighter, the J-20, from its first demonstrator flight to service entry in just six years drew a highly unfavourable precedent when compared to the F-35 and F-22, which both took 15 years, and indicates that the country could begin fielding sixth generation fighters close to a decade before the United States.

    • 201dberg@lemmygrad.ml
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      6 hours ago

      Ok yeah, but like, that’s as 15 years of amazing profits for the investors of the contract manufacturers that “made” the F-35/22s.
      Who made any profit off of China’s measley 6 year production time? Checkmate tankies.

    • Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club
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      10 hours ago

      Not to mention that one will cost the same as an aircraft carrier, have a regularly scheduled 95% downtime (best case), and licence & software locked to the private companies that make it so only they can service it.