However, an interesting statistic has sparked widespread heated discussions: the difference in cost between the J-16 and J-20 is only $20 million. Why not produce all J-20s?
Recently, it was revealed that the cost of J-16 and J-20 is almost the same, and this news has sparked heated discussions on the Internet. Many netizens have said that since the performance of the J-20 is so superior, why not produce the J-20 in full?
In fact, there are many factors involved in this problem. First of all, let's be clear that the J-16 and J-20 are two different types of fighters. The J-16 is a heavy fighter that is mainly used to perform multiple missions such as air superiority and ground attack. The J-20 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter with higher stealth performance, situational awareness and maneuverability, and is mainly used to perform tasks such as air superiority and ground strikes.
From the point of view of cost, although the difference in the cost of the J-16 and J-20 is only 20 million US dollars, this does not mean that the cost performance of the two fighters is the same. As a fifth-generation fighter, the J-20 has relatively high technical content, R&D costs and maintenance costs. Although the J-16 is relatively low in cost, its reliability and practicality in performing tasks have also been widely recognized.
In addition, the issue of production is also an important factor affecting the production volume of the J-20. Although the J-20 has superior performance, the capacity of its production line and the supply of parts are limited. In contrast, the J-16 production line is relatively mature and can quickly meet the needs of the army.
Finally, we need to realize that the modernization of the armed forces is a complex process that requires a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors. When choosing a fighter plane, it is necessary to consider not only its performance, cost, and output, but also its application and cooperation in actual combat. Therefore, the full production of the J-20 is not a simple decision, but the result of comprehensive consideration of various factors.
In short, the J-16 and J-20 have their own advantages and applicable scenarios, and the full production of the J-20 is not a simple problem. The modernization of the armed forces requires comprehensive consideration of various factors and the most realistic policy decisions.