The next morning, Shu.
Inside Institute 611.
Song Qinyi looked over every member of the R&D team, a smile on his face. "Pass down the order from above. The J-20 will undergo preliminary testing."
"This experiment will be a taxi test validation."
"Yes." Several R&D team leaders answered in quick succession.
Over the past two weeks, they had completed the J-20's initial modifications and adjustments. The second-generation Gallium Oxide-silver composite stealth coating had also been applied, while the aerodynamic layout had undergone preliminary fine-tuning.
The high-strength carbon fiber composite material was still under development. Initial estimates suggested it could be fully replaced by the time the prototype made its maiden flight.
However, the engine was still the old Russian AL-31F. Installing an entirely new engine would require major modifications to the J-20, including redesigning vital components such as fuel delivery, power, electricity generation, and more.
Even though they now possessed the complete technical documentation for the F119 engine of the F-22 fighter jet, Institute 611 had not rushed to begin development.
After all, the institute's most urgent task right now was to successfully complete the J-20 fighter's maiden flight validation.
Only after accomplishing that could they talk about replacing it with a more powerful engine or comprehensively upgrading to more intelligent fourth-generation advanced integrated avionics.
Otherwise, if even the maiden-flight prototype failed, what was there to improve or develop?
The tug slowly pulled the fighter out of the hangar, and its landing gear came to a stop on the airport runway.
Everyone stared intently at the J-20, which resembled a six-winged angel spreading its wings, their breathing growing tense.
The control surface tests were underway.
[Canards normal, flaps normal, vertical tail deflection normal.] [J-20 control surfaces: all normal.]
"How did the data validation from the day before yesterday go?" Song Qinyi asked the assistant beside him.
"The test modifications and ground experiments have all been completed. All data falls within expected parameters."
"Good. After one inspection round, issue the taxi test authorization directly." Song Qinyi nodded, his expression still calm and composed.
After absorbing every aspect of the F-22's technology, there was no reason this J-20 could not even pass such basic validation.
This taxi test was merely a routine procedure before the maiden flight. It primarily examined the fighter's most basic turning ability, straight-line stability, curve correction, whether each structural component remained secure under high-speed vibration, and whether the engine and other parts functioned properly. It was the most fundamental inspection process.
If it were not mandatory, he probably would not have paid it much attention.
If he did not even have that confidence, how could he dare claim that they would build a prototype for maiden-flight testing within four months and present it as a gift to Great Xia?
At that moment, the J-20 on the runway had also completed its inspection.
Everything was ready. The engine started, and the AL-31F emitted its distinctive fierce, piercing roar.
It began accelerating slowly across the ground, and every R&D team member's heart was in their throat.
The engine gradually pushed forward, instantly reaching 80 kilometers per hour. This was the simplest low-speed taxi test.
[Taxiing characteristics: all normal.] [Precise straight-line taxiing: zero deviation.] [Turning capability: maximum angle.]
The view shifted farther away.
Nearly one or two kilometers from the airport runway stood a wall roughly four or five meters high. Its main purpose was to prevent outsiders from casually entering and taking photos that could cause leaks of classified information or serious violations.
Institute 611 had good intentions, but it had underestimated these people.
Clearly, this wall could not stop those curiosity-overflowing "enthusiastic" onlookers.
Sometimes, when there was no longer any room atop the wall, these people would choose to climb trees ten or twenty meters tall. Quite a few had broken several ribs from falling, and there were even a few lying in ambush in the grass.
If Eagle Sauce had seen this, though, it probably would have recalled some rather unpleasant memories. A cheerful little Vietnam War tune seemed to drift through the air, carrying it back several decades.
At this moment.
The people occupying the most favorable position were several middle-aged men, mostly in their thirties or forties. They lay at a gap in the wall, craning their necks to look inside.
Their equipment was nearly identical: all had binoculars, while those with better financial means also had a digital camera hanging from their chests.
They gathered in small groups, eating sunflower seeds and snacks as they muttered among themselves.
"Brother, what kind of aircraft do you think Cheng Luo Ma is working on this time?" asked the slightly more muscular man. His cap even bore the image of a J-10 fighter.
The skinny, dark-skinned man beside him guessed, "There are rumors that this fighter test has some little surprise in store. What do you think it could be?"
"No idea. Judging by the activity, it doesn't seem small. Could they be testing some new type of fighter?"
"It should be an improved J-10 model, right? Something like the Typhoon, a Generation 4.5 fighter."
"Then tell me, can this new fighter we're developing reach the level of the Russian Su-35?"
"I doubt it. The Su-35, with its super maneuverability, is called the strongest Generation 4.5 fighter—the strongest existence below Fifth Generation Fighters. It can be considered a 4++ generation fighter. Haven't people on the forums been saying that we were developing a Generation 4.5 fighter?"
The others immediately joined the discussion, talking over one another.
For this fighter to rival the Su-35 and become the strongest Generation 4.5 fighter was already the best outcome they could imagine.
As for a Fifth Generation Fighter? They would not even dare dream that big!
These people had one thing in common: not only were they "enthusiastic" citizens overflowing with curiosity, they were also veteran military enthusiasts.
They lay on the wall not to gather intelligence, but simply because they wanted to know the latest developments in Great Xia's military equipment research.
Of course, being able to go back and brag to the forum crowd was also one of their main goals.
Suddenly, one of the guys hanging from a tree shouted excitedly, "Hey, it's out! It's out! Look, what kind of fighter is that?"
He held binoculars in one hand and clutched the trunk tightly with the other, making everyone unable to help worrying that he might accidentally fall.
"Where? Which runway?" Many people immediately began looking around.
"Runway Three. It's being pulled out by a tug now. Is this fighter about to make its maiden flight?"
"Doesn't look like it. This should just be a routine ground inspection. It hasn't reached the maiden-flight stage of development yet." An experienced old military enthusiast shook his head.
However, when everyone got a clear look at the fighter's appearance, their hearts abruptly stopped in unison, and their whole bodies trembled.
Their eyes held not only confusion, but intense shock and astonishment.
This was an entirely new fighter they had never seen before, appearing openly before their very eyes.
Its futuristic appearance, silver-painted coating, and completely flattened aerodynamic layout.
This was a Generation 4.5 fighter? You called this thing Generation 4.5?
This surprise was a little too huge!
Before you continue