J-20 Mighty Dragon

The Chengdu J-20 emerged from the late-1990s J-XX program, with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) endorsing Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's Project 718 proposal in 2008. Designed as an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability, its development aimed to provide China with an advanced stealth aircraft. Key milestones include the first J-20 prototype's high-speed taxiing tests in December 2010, followed by its maiden flight on January 11, 2011. Subsequent prototypes introduced refinements such as modified diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), stealth coatings, and redesigned vertical stabilizers. Significant engineering challenges revolved around engine development, with initial prototypes and early production aircraft utilizing Russian Saturn AL-31 variants or interim domestic WS-10B engines. The WS-10C, featuring serrated nozzles for enhanced stealth, was later integrated, with reports of its use starting mid-2019. The development of the intended WS-15 engine faced delays but saw flight trials in 2022 and serial production announced in 2023. The J-20's design was reportedly finalized for mass production in October 2017, with low-rate initial production (LRIP) commencing in late 2015 and the aircraft officially entering service in March 2017.

The J-20 is characterized by a long and blended fuselage, a chiseled nose section, a frameless canopy, and low-observable diverterless supersonic inlets. Its aerodynamic configuration features all-moving canard surfaces with pronounced dihedral positioned behind the intakes, leading edge root extensions (LERX) merging into a delta wing with forward-swept trailing edges, and an aft section with twin outward-canted all-moving fins and ventral strakes. This design emphasizes high instability for sustained pitch authority at high angles of attack, contributing to good supersonic performance, excellent supersonic and transonic turn capabilities, and improved short-field landing performance. Composite materials are utilized to reduce its radar cross-section. The avionics suite is designed for advanced sensor fusion and situational awareness, incorporating multi-spectral sensors for omnidirectional coverage, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar (estimated to house 2000-2200 transmit/receive modules), an EOTS-89 electro-optical targeting system, and an EORD-31 infrared search and track system. The fully-digital glass cockpit includes a large primary color liquid-crystal display touchscreen, three smaller auxiliary displays, a wide-angle holographic heads-up display, and a helmet-mounted display system. The aircraft is also equipped with a retractable refueling probe. Some variants are powered by twin Shenyang WS-10C afterburning turbofans, which reportedly enable supercruise, while the WS-15 is the intended final powerplant.

The J-20 features a main internal weapon bay capable of housing long-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-15 and PL-21, as well as precision-guided munitions like the LS-6/50 and LS-6/100. This main bay can typically carry four medium/long-range AAMs, with a possible staggered arrangement for six PL-15s using modified rail launchers. Two smaller lateral weapon bays, located behind the air inlets, are designed for short-range AAMs like the PL-10, allowing the bay doors to be closed prior to missile launch to maintain stealth. Each lateral bay can carry one short-range missile. For external carriage, the J-20 has four under-wing hardpoints capable of mounting auxiliary fuel tanks or weapons, such as eight PL-15 missiles. While external stores compromise stealth, they can be used for missions where stealth is permissible to sacrifice or to increase carriage capacity. The aircraft can also carry anti-radiation missiles. The J-20 reportedly lacks an internal autocannon, indicating a preference for long-range engagements. The maximum weapon payload capacity is stated as 11,000 kg.

The Chengdu J-20 officially entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in March 2017, with the first combat unit formed in February 2018. During its initial operational capability phase and training, aircraft were often equipped with Luneburg lens radar reflectors. The J-20 participated in its first combat exercise in January 2018, conducting beyond-visual-range maneuvers against fourth-generation fighters, and has since engaged in night confrontation missions and over-ocean combat exercises. By 2022, J-20s were deployed in combat units across all five of China's theater commands and commenced regular maritime patrols in the East China Sea and South China Sea. In March 2022, a USAF general confirmed that USAF F-35s had encountered J-20s over the East China Sea, describing the Chinese pilots' operation as professional and expressing relative impressiveness with PLAAF command and control. Early operational service highlighted ongoing technical development, particularly concerning its indigenous WS-15 engines, flight control systems, and stealth coatings. Production has reportedly accelerated, with an increasing number of brigades being equipped with the aircraft.

Main Variants

• J-20: The initial production variant that commenced serial production in October 2017 and was incorporated into PLAAF training units in March 2017 and combat units by February 2018.
• J-20A: An improved variant, initially referred to by some analysts as J-20B, featuring airframe modifications such as a slightly raised cockpit and reshaped nosecone, optimized for WS-15 engines, and incorporating internal upgrades to avionics, sensors, and materials for enhanced performance and signature reduction.
• J-20S: A twin-seat variant officially revealed in 2024, designed for expanded roles including manned-unmanned teaming, potential airborne early warning and control, electronic warfare, and improved mission management through a second operator.

Missiles payload:

• PL-10 Short Range AAM
• PL-12 Medium Range AAM
• PL-15 Long Range AAM
• PL-21 Very Long Range AAM (future implementation)
• Anti-radiation missile

Bombs payload:

• LS-6/50 kg and LS-6/100 kg Small-diameter precision-guided bomb