The impressive technological leaps China has made in fighter jet development complement its assertive foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific.
Over the past three decades, China’s fighter jet development has undergone a remarkable transformation. In the 1990s, Beijing was entirely dependent on Soviet designs. However, today, the Chinese are producing sophisticated aircraft indigenously, some of which are beginning to rival their American counterparts. China’s evolution is the result of a methodical, concerted effort designed to complement the emergent Chinese strategy of challenging US air superiority and general influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
As recently as the 1990s, China’s air force (PLAAF) was rather unimpressive. Heavily dependent on Soviet derivatives, such as the MiG-19 and MiG-21, the PLAAF was only capable of humble operations, such as domestic air defense. In a head-to-head comparison with contemporary US fighters, the PLAAF was woefully out-gunned. At the time, the United States was already fielding the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-117, and B-2—with the F-22 on the way.
However, throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, China worked to bridge the capability gap with the United States—first through the acquisition of more advanced Russian fighters, such as the Su-27 and Su-30, then through the development of indigenous aircraft like the Shenyang J-11. The result was a crop of PLAAF jets that offered improvements in speed, range, and armament. However, China continued to lag behind the United States, especially in radar, stealth, and avionics technology.
Beijing’s continued effort, throughout the 2010s, led to the introduction of more indigenous designs, each with increasing levels of sophistication. The Chengdu J-10, a single-engine multirole fighter on par with the F-16, marked China’s first home-grown fourth-generation fighter. Developing the J-10 was a landmark moment for China, demonstrating its ability to develop an aircraft with impressive capabilities such as a fly-by-wire system, avionics integration, and superlative aerodynamics. Still, the J-10 lagged behind its US counterparts in terms of stealth and sensor fusion.
To bridge the gap, China developed two fifth-generation fighters, becoming just one of three countries in the world to do so. These two fighters were the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang FC-31. With its twin engines and stealth capabilities, the J-20 is built for long-range interception, air defense penetration, and air superiority. The aircraft features stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, and advanced radar. However, questions remain about the jet’s stealth and engine performance, with some analysts noting that the J-20 loses out when compared to its US counterpart.
The impressive technological leaps China has made in fighter jet development in a relatively short time complement its assertive foreign policy. From America’s perspective, the PLAAF’s recently enhanced fighter inventory changes the calculus in the Indo-Pacific. Whereas, in the past, US war planners could assume uncontested air dominance, now, the United States will need to account for a PLAAF that can potentially deny airspace and even project power beyond China’s borders.
While the United States still holds notable advantages over China, especially with respect to combat experiences, alliances, and global logistics, the technological advantage that Washington enjoyed for so long is rapidly shrinking. Recognizing the shrinking technological gap, the United States is pushing to innovate rapidly, with programs such as the F-47 NGAD, CCA wingmen, and the B-21 Raider.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Shutterstock / Mike Mareen
