Jinmu ZF-21 Dragon

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Jinmu ZF-21 Dragon
Single-seat (ZF-21A) and twin-seat (ZF-21B) variants of the ZF-21 Dragon.
Role	Multirole combat aircraft
National origin	Zhenia
Manufacturer	Jinmu Heavy Industries
First flight	June 4, 1998
Introduction	December 1, 2004
Status	Operational
Primary users	Greater Eastern Union Air Force Greater Eastern Union Navy See Operators
Produced	2003-Present
Number built	411 (as of February 2020)
Unit cost	$189 million (flyaway cost for 2019)
Variants	See Variants

The Jinmu ZF-21 Dragon is a Zhenian fifth-generation single or twin-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighters developed for the Greater Eastern Union Air Force and the Greater Eastern Union Navy. Although originally intended as an air superiority fighter when development began, it has been developed to carry out missions as a multirole fighter, capable of taking out both air superiority and precision ground strike missions, as well as electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Although primarily built by Jinmu Heavy Industries, other contractors, including Signus Systems, took part in the development process as well.

A result of decades of continuous development that had been mostly in secret, the ZF-21 Dragon was first revealed to the public during its test flight on June 4, 1998 and was introduced to service in 2004. Later developed in tandem with the ZF-32 Black Eagle, later variants and upgrades feature a considerable amount of cross-development with technological input gained from developing the ZF-32. Replacing the ZF-7 Typhoon, the ZF-21 Dragon is planned to form the higher end of the GEUDEF's projected high-low mix of combat aircraft. The Greater Eastern Union Air Force and Navy combined plans to field up to 720 and 450 ZF-21 units in total by 2026.

Design

Armament

Approximate depiction of the internal weapons bays of the ZF-21 - the green indicate the internal weapons bays. Note that the internal weapons bays may not necessarily be on the same plane.

Cockpit

The ZF-21 uses a glass cockpit to maximize the pilot's situational awareness.

Stealth

Although its exact radar cross section remains a closely-guarded secret, there are speculations that the estimated radar cross-section of the ZF-21 without any external armaments is most likely smaller than 0.001m² - roughly comparable to a metal golf ball. The ZF-21 was designed to minimize its radar cross-section and probability of being detected by enemy sensors. Such measures include planform alignment on the edges, curved vanes behind the divertless supersonic inlet to cover the engine turbines from external radar waves, extensive use of radar-absorbent material (RAM) and minimization of clear bumps and design irregularities that can possibly give a radar return. Reduction of radio emissions, infrared and acoustic signature has also been taken into account upon the ZF-21's design, with its saw-toothed three-dimensional thrust-vectoring designs both to scatter radar and heat signatures, active cooling on leading edges and other heat-concentrated areas to reduce heat buildup and the internalization of almost all antenna systems.

Although it takes extensive use of radar-absorbent material (RAM), the ZF-21 primarily uses more durable radar-absorbent fibermat skin modules that allow for less and easier maintenance than its predecessors, increasing its mission capable rate and availability in emergency situations. While its stealth is primarily focused on achieving very low observability (VLO) against X-band threats, it is said to also have achieved at least low observability (LO) against S-band and L-band threats, among other lower-frequency threats. Although its exact radar cross section remains a closely-guarded secret, there are speculations that the estimated radar cross-section of the ZF-21 without any external armaments is most likely smaller than 0.001m² - roughly comparable to a metal golf ball. The aircraft can additionally mount a total of six Luneburg lens reflectors to disguise its actual radar cross-section.

Specifications (ZF-21A)

Three-way view of the ZF-21A single-seater variant.