15 years ago, on January 11, 2011, China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon” took its first flight. Once met with skepticism, the J-20 has since emerged as a formidable aircraft, powered by indigenous engines.
The twin-engine J-20 is China’s first domestically developed fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, designed for air superiority with multirole capabilities, including precision strikes. It features a canard-delta configuration, advanced stealth, internal weapon bays, and sophisticated sensors, among other features often discussed by EurAsian Times.
“Symbolising a historic leap in China’s aviation industry, the J-20 has continuously drawn attention from its first takeoff in 2011 to major national events and evolving combat readiness,” Chinese state-owned media publication CGTN stated, marking the 15th anniversary of the aircraft.
The J-20 program traces its roots to China’s J-XX initiative in the late 1990s, aimed at developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter.
In 2008, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) selected Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s design over competing concepts, leading to the first flight on January 11, 2011. Multiple prototypes followed, adding improvements like diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), stealth coatings, improved sensors, and low-altitude or high-speed testing.
The aircraft made its official debut at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2016 and formally entered service with the PLAAF in March 2017—over a decade after the rival US Air Force (USAF) inducted its first fifth-generation stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor, in December 2005, and roughly two years after the USAF commissioned the F-35A Lightning II in 2015.
The J-20 reached operational status just six years after its maiden flight, faster than comparable programs and a major feat for a country producing its first stealth aircraft.
China is reportedly planning to boost the J-20 by improving its avionics, engines, radar, and Artificial intelligence (AI) integration to solidify the fifth-generation jet’s critical role in modern aerial warfare.
Seven Times The J-20 Made Headlines
-
Chinese J-20s Get Their Chinese Engines
One of the major milestones of the J-20 program was the substitution of Russian engines that powered them with locally produced aero engines.
For a long time after its inception, the aircraft relied on the Russian Saturn AL-31F/FN series engines as a stopgap until China could power the jet with its own, locally produced jet engine.
The Russian engines provided sufficient thrust for testing and early operations, but severely limited supercruise and stealth capabilities due to their rounded nozzles, which increased the J-20’s radar and infrared signatures.
China eventually transitioned to homegrown engines with the Shenyang WS-10 series. The WS-10C, introduced between 2019 and 2021, featured serrated nozzles that reduced radar reflections, and thrust of around 14–15 tons, enabling limited super cruise.
While the ultimate plan was to equip the aircraft wth more advanced WS-15 for supercruise, the switch to WS-10C nonetheless represented a major step toward independence from Russian imports, and a leap in aero engine technology.
A bulk of J-20s currently operational in the PLAAF are powered by the WS-10C.
-
Chinese J-20 Jets Deployed Near Indian Border
China deployed its fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter jet at the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) during the height of the border standoff with India in 2020, in what was probably one of the first such deployments near an active flashpoint.
The aircraft was reportedly deployed at the Hotan airbase, which lies about 200 miles from Ladakh, where the Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a brutal clash in June 2020, killing 20 Indian soldiers and an unconfirmed number on the Chinese side.
The former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, revealed in an interview in May 2024 that China had deployed five times as many J-20 stealth fighters as India’s newly procured Rafale jets during the 2020 standoff.
As the number of Rafales in India’s arsenal increased to four, China ramped up its deployment to 20 J-20s, resulting in a ratio of five J-20s deployed by Beijing to counter each Rafale, the former IAF chief recounted.
The move came in response to the perceived threat posed by Rafales, which had recently begun conducting night-flying exercises in the mountainous terrain at the time.
-
J-20 Enters The Grey Zone Warfare Against Taiwan
A mainstay of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the J-20s have become one of China’s most prized assets for intimidating adversaries, projecting power, and conducting high-level interception missions.
The J-20s were first deployed near Taiwan during large-scale PLA exercises following former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island state in August 2022. At the time, the aircraft participated in the joint PLA operations meant to simulate the encirclement of the self-ruled island state and a potential invasion.
This marked the beginning of J-20’s participation in what is popularly known as Beijing’s “Grey Zone Warfare.”
In 2023, a Chinese J-20 pilot claimed he flew over Taiwan, without being detected or intercepted by the Republic of China (RoC) military. While analysts saw this as PLA propaganda, it triggered discussion of the vulnerability of Taiwan’s air defense systems.
说一个坏消息😋
解放军东部战区的J-20在台湾海岸10公里外飞行
J20拍下宝岛的美景后，安全返航
而台当局却继续装鸵鸟😋 pic.twitter.com/W2HSocVOtq
— 沙漠之狐 埃尔温·隆美尔 (@3596675596com) December 31, 2025
Interestingly, this incident repeated itself during the latest “Justice Mission 2025” military drills held in late December last year, with a J-20 allegedly coming within miles of Pingtun county in Taiwan, as reported in depth by the EurAsian Times.
-
J-20 is Upgraded for Supercruise
Since the J-20 entered service, China has accelerated efforts to modernise and upgrade it with cutting-edge features so that the aircraft can match and challenge the capabilities of the American F-22 and F-35 fighter jets amid sustained rivalry.
Adding the WS-15 engine, which is likely to give the aircraft “supercruise capability,” has been at the heart of this modernisation drive.
Supercruise is the ability of an aircraft to maintain supersonic speed for a long period, a capability considered crucial for the kinds of missions that the J-20 is anticipated to carry out.
Some experts earlier stated that the WS-15 would be comparable to the F-119 engine that powers the F-22 Raptor, especially because of its thrust-to-weight ratio.
While that may be subject to debate, we know that China unveiled an upgraded J-20, powered by the WS-15, at the Victory Day Parade in September 2025. Named J-20A, the aircraft has been described by state media outlets such as CCTV as a single-seat upgraded variant serving as a spearhead force for future air combat operations.
The first production J-20A, powered by serial-produced WS-15, was reportedly spotted on its maiden flight last month, as noted by PLA watchers on social media.
And indeed a major Christmas news if true … allegedly the first production J-20A powered by serial WS-15 engines has made its maiden flight today! pic.twitter.com/4NJeuSgTf5
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 27, 2025
The aircraft includes an enhanced design—a raised section at the junction between the rear of its canopy and the fuselage—to minimise airflow separation at the rear of the canopy and reduce drag, which is highly conducive to supersonic flight and supersonic cruise.
The J-20A is also likely equipped with upgraded avionics systems and sensors, perhaps a new AESA radar, and an enhanced Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, among other things.
-
J-20 in a Two-Seater Variant ‘J-20S’
China debuted its J-20S, renowned for being the world’s first two-seater stealth fighter, in September 2025.
Classified as a new-generation, medium-to-long-range, two-seat, heavy multirole stealth fighter, the J-20S can conduct precision strikes on land and sea targets and carry out medium- to long-range air superiority missions.
Experts say it features a more advanced electro-optical system beneath the nose. This system provides 360-degree coverage and is similar to the F-35’s Electro-Optical Targeting System, as noted by PLA watchers.
At the time, analysts said it was likely powered by the indigenous WS10C2 engine.
The EurAsian Times understands that the twin-seat configuration may enable the fighter to perform tasks in which a second crew member manages sensors or communications, such as electronic warfare, command and control, or weapons coordination. This could be highly beneficial in contested airspace where single-seat pilots face electronic jamming or data overload.
-
J-20 Meets / Confronts US Stealth Fighters
If reports are to be believed, the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter has already confronted American stealth jet (s) on two or more occasions.
In March 2022, General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, USAF, did not reveal when, or even if, the F-35/J-20 encounter took place. He, however, discussed briefly the new Chinese stealth fighter’s function in a rare interaction.
“It’s a bit early to say what they intend to do with the J-20, so really all we’ve seen it do is air superiority,” he says. “But we notice that they are flying it pretty well. We recently had – I wouldn’t call it an engagement – where we got relatively close to the J-20s along with our F-35s in the East China Sea, and we’re relatively impressed with the command and control associated with the J-20.”
In June 2025, Chinese state media claimed that PLAAF aircraft, including the J-20, were scrambled to intercept and “chase away” US F-35A fighters, possibly from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, and F/A-18 Super Hornets in the East China Sea. There was no official statement (confirmation or rejection) from US officials.
However, the second encounter, according to Chinese media reports, occurred shortly after, in July 2025. The Chinese state media claimed the J-20 was used as the “tip of the spear” to intercept foreign stealth aircraft during patrols.
Chinese media claimed that the foreign military aircraft were expelled. While they did not disclose the date of the incident or the foreign aircraft in question, it was widely understood to be the F-35.
Again, there was no official statement from the US military.
-
More Than 300 J-20 Produced
China has produced more than 300 J-20 stealth fighter jets—a spectacular feat that shows it is expanding production lines and accelerating deliveries at a breakneck pace.
This was revealed when an airframe bearing construction number ‘CB10300’ was spotted at the Changchun Air Show site in Jilin province in September 2025.
The aircraft production has now accelerated to 100-120 aircraft per year, aided by new assembly lines at Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. In contrast, Lockheed Martin produces over 150 F-35s annually, many of which are meant for international buyers. Meanwhile, the production of the F-22 had ceased long ago.
Notably, PLA watchers and analysts believe this number is just the tip of the iceberg, and that the total number of J-20s has likely surpassed 300. In fact, a Pentagon report published in December 2024 projected that China would have 400 J-20 fighters operational by the end of 2025, making it the world’s largest fleet of stealth jets.
While we cannot say for sure whether that mark has been attained, it does reflect the rapid expansion of China’s stealth capability.
- Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari13 (at) outlook.com
- Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
