The J-20 will enhance China’s presence in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, allowing China to greater assert its territorial claims and deter foreign (i.e. US) intervention.
The Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon is China’s premier fighter jet, a fifth-generation stealth aircraft in use with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). First flown in 2011, and entering service in 2017, the J-20 marked a drastic leap forward in Chinese aerospace abilities, offering a bold statement for the country’s military ambitions—and as a counterpoint to American aerospace supremacy.
The J-20 incorporates a slew of advanced technologies that are rarely found outside of American-manufactured jets, including stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, infrared search-and-track (IRST) systems, and data fusion capabilities. The fuselage design features a distinctive canard-delta wing, giving the airframe a unique aerodynamic profile that is notably different from contemporaries like the F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II.
Originally, the J-20 relied upon Russian-supplied Al-31 engines—but has been transitioning towards the domestically produced WS-10C engine, and ultimately, will adopt the upcoming (and highly anticipated) WS-15, which should provide the J-20 with super cruise abilities, aka, sustained supersonic flight without the use of afterburners. The WS-15 should significantly improve the range of the J-20, meaning, China will be able to project airpower deeper into contested airspace throughout the sprawling Indo-Pacific region.
Initially optimized for air superiority missions, the J-20 has also been used for precious strikes, intelligence gathering, and electronic warfare—especially the newer two-seat variant, the J-20S, which is believed to be a control node for “loyal wingman” drones and networked combat operations, meaning that China is trending in the same direction as the US: towards a more integrated and multi-domain style of warfare, likely mitigating the advantages of US fifth-generation fighters in this regard.
The J-20 Will Significantly Expand Beijing’s Aerial Reach
The J-20 is a strategic game changer. Vital to China’s military modernization, a key component in President Xi Jinping’s goal to assemble a world-class military, the J-20 is a symbol of national prestige and technological independence.
It is unclear if the J-20 can actually surpass comparable American aircraft. But what seems clear, from a geopolitical perspective, is that the J-20 gives the PLAAF a stealthy, long-range platform that can challenge US air power throughout the Indo-Pacific. The J-20 will enhance China’s presence in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, allowing China to greater assert its territorial claims and deter foreign (i.e. US) intervention. Between the range and stealth of the J-20 platform, the jet can be used to strike targets or intercept adversaries in contested areas—without early detection—which complicates the planning of anyone else operating in the area. For the United States, which has deep commitments in the region, the rapidly expanding J-20 fleet—now estimated at around 200 aircraft—represents a significant challenge. If nothing else, the J-20 limits the PLAAF’s technology gap with America and could well force Washington to change its tactics, basing, and force posture—especially with respect to defending Taiwan, in which early air dominance will be especially vital.
In sum, the J-20 is not just a capable fifth-generation aircraft. The jet is a strategic tool that affirms China’s technological and military relevance. And even if the J-20 is not yet on par with US fifth-generation fighters, the J-20 changes the calculus. Without question, the J-20 will serve as the backbone of China’s high-end air power, at a time when China is increasingly asserting itself as a revisionist power in the region.
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.
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