Whereas the US relies on a boutique fleet of F-22s, the PLAAF seems to be bent on fielding hundreds of J-20s—a scale that promises to overwhelm US and allied forces in the region.
China’s Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon is a much-hyped fifth-generation fighter—the centerpiece of a rapidly modernizing air force built to challenge US supremacy in the skies of the Indo-Pacific. First flown in 2011, and entering service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2017, the J-20 is now an operational system that reflects China’s industrial advancement and its wider strategic ambitions.
While the J-20’s performance, relative to Western counterparts like the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, has not been established, it is clear that the J-20 represents a significant technological leap over China’s legacy fighters.
The J-20 Mighty Dragon’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2017
- Number Built: Estimated 200+ in service as of 2024 (production ongoing)
- Length: 69 ft 7 in (21.2 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 9 in (13.0 m)
- Empty Weight: ~43,000 lb (19,500 kg)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: ~80,000 lb (36,000 kg)
- Engines: Two Shenyang WS-10C turbofans (27,000 lbf each with afterburner); future variants expected with WS-15 (~35,000 lbf)
- Top Speed: ~Mach 2.0 (est.)
- Range: ~700 nmi (1,300 km) combat radius; ~2,000 nmi ferry range
- Service Ceiling: ~66,000 ft (20,000 m)
- Loadout: Internal bays for long-range PL-15 and short-range PL-10 air-to-air missiles; precision-guided munitions in internal bays; external stores possible, at cost to stealth
- Aircrew: 1
Assessing the J-20’s Capabilities
The J-20’s full capabilities have not been disclosed, but the aircraft obviously incorporates features associated with fifth-generation fighters: stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, advanced avionics, and sensor fusion. The J-20’s long, chined fuselage and canard-delta wing configuration provide a distinct silhouette that seems to combine low observability with maneuverability and range. Coated with radar-absorbent materials (RAM), the J-20 is presumed to be very stealthy, especially from the front, which should allow for some degree of penetration in contested air spaces.
The J-20 is equipped with advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and an electro-optical targeting system, meaning the jet can handle long-range detection and engagement. Complementing its long-range targeting ability, the J-20 is outfitted with beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles like the PL-15, which has an active radar seeker and a range exceeding 200 kilometers. The AESA and PL-15 combo appears to be an attempt to offset American advantages in stealth and situational awareness. And with internal weapons bays, the J-20 can carry long-range weapons without compromising stealth performance.
Of course, the J-20 is not without its flaws. In particular, the engine has been a source of persistent weakness. Early J-20 variants relied on Russian-supplied AL-31F engines, which hindered supercruise and suffered from low reliability. China has shifted towards an indigenous design, the WS-10C engine—with hopes of eventually fielding the WS-15, which could offer super cruise. If the Chinese can pull off the WS-15, the J-20 will become something of a true rival to US fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor.
Does the J-20 Matter to China’s Air Defense?
The J-20’s arrival on the flight line signals not just technological evolution but strategic evolution. For decades, US forces have enjoyed a qualitative advantage over China’ fighter fleets. The J-20 seriously threatens that advantage. If the J-20 is as adept as it appears to be in intercepting high-value assets like tankers and airborne early warning aircraft, then the J-20 poses a significant threat to the force multiplying aircraft that enable American air power to operate globally. And if that’s true, the J-20 threatens to complicate US operational planning throughout the Indo-Pacific, especially with respect to Taiwan.
The rate at which China is producing the J-20 suggests a push for a quantitative edge over the United States, too. Whereas the US relies on a boutique fleet of F-22s, the PLAAF seems to be bent on fielding hundreds of J-20s—a scale that promises to overwhelm US and allied forces in the region. Accordingly, through quality and quantity, the J-20 could be a critical component in China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy, which is designed to push the sphere of US influence further and further back from China’s coastline.
So while the J-20 likely does not offer a direct qualitative match for American fifth-generation fighters, the strategic implications still seem to be profound. There is no way to know for sure how capable the plane is, of course, until an actual fight takes place—an outcome that all should hope to avoid!
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 / Xiao Wei.
