32 Facts About Chengdu J-20

Chengdu J-20, known as Mighty Dragon, is a twinjet all-weather stealth fighter aircraft developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force .

The Chengdu J-20 is designed as an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability; it descends from the J-XX program of the 1990s.

The Chengdu J-20 is the world's third operational fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft after the F-22 and F-35.

Chengdu J-20 had previously used the double-canard configuration in the J-9, its first design and cancelled in the 1970s, and the J-10.

Several changes were made to the third Chengdu J-20 prototype numbered "2011", which made its maiden flight in March 2014.

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In October 2017, Chinese state media reported that the designs of the Chengdu J-20 had been finalized, and is ready for mass production as well as being combat-ready.

In January 2019, Chinese media reported that a twin-seat variant of the Chengdu J-20 is rumored to be in development for use in tactical bombing, electronic warfare and carrier strike roles.

The WS-10C-powered Chengdu J-20 was officially showcased to the public on 28 September 2021 at Zhuhai Airshow.

Chengdu J-20 has a long and blended fuselage, with a chiseled nose section and a frameless canopy.

The Chengdu J-20 is a multirole air superiority fighter, with the interceptor role being just one of the options.

The Chengdu J-20 reportedly lacks an internal autocannon or rotary cannon, suggesting the aircraft is not intended for use in short-range dogfight engagements with other aircraft but to engage from long standoff ranges with missiles such as the PL-15 and PL-21.

However, much like the F-22, the Chengdu J-20 is unlikely to carry fuel tanks on combat missions due to its vulnerability in such a configuration; the value of this configuration is relevant to such peacetime operations as transiting between airbases.

Chengdu J-20 entered production powered by an improved Lyulka-Saturn AL-31 variant, reportedly the AL-31FM2 developed by Salyut.

In March 2022, Chinese state media reported that the Chengdu J-20 had performed trials with the engine and experienced significantly improved performance.

Analysts noted that the Chengdu J-20's airframe employs a holistic approach to reduce its radar cross-section, uniquely combining canard wings with leading edge root extensions .

Defense observer Rick Joe believes Chengdu J-20's configuration is stealthy, while there is a lack of evidence for the popular assumption of canards' inherent incompatibility with stealth.

Analysts have noted that the Chengdu J-20 DSI reduces the need for the application of radar-absorbent materials.

On 16 January 2014, the third Chengdu J-20 prototype was revealed, showing new intakes, embedded engine nozzles, and stealth coating, as well as redesigned vertical stabilizers, and an Electro-Optical Targeting System.

Chinese media reported that the design of the Chengdu J-20 was frozen and finalized, as formal ceremonies were held for the prototype "2017" after completing the flight testing.

In September 2017, a newly-built Chengdu J-20 prototype was flight testing with Chinese-made WS-10 Taihang engines, featuring sawtoothed serration edge on its afterburning nozzles.

In late December 2015, a new Chengdu J-20 numbered 2101 was spotted; it is believed to be the LRIP version of the aircraft.

In October 2017, Chinese media reported that CAC initiated the serial production for the Chengdu J-20 and is on a path towards achieving full operational capability with the People's Liberation Army Air Force .

Pilot training for the Chengdu J-20 started as early as March 2017, after the fighter entered limited service in the initial operational capability phase.

Chengdu J-20 participated in its first combat exercise in January 2018, practicing beyond-visual-range maneuvers against China's fourth-generation fighters such as J-16 and J-10C.

Chinese Ministry of National Defense revealed that Chengdu J-20 has conducted night confrontation missions during several coordinated tactical training exercises.

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Chengdu J-20 participated in its first over-ocean combat exercise in May 2018.

On 9 March 2017, Chinese media revealed that the Chengdu J-20 had entered service in the Chinese air force, making China the second country in the world—after the United States—and the first in Asia to field an operational fifth-generation stealth aircraft.

On 26 June 2021, Chinese state media reported that Chengdu J-20 fighters were deployed to PLAAF units monitoring East China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Aviation researchers believe that the Chengdu J-20 signifies that China had surpassed Russia in the application of contemporary aviation technologies such as composite materials, advanced avionics, and long-range weapons systems.

Rod Lee, research director at the China Aerospace Studies Institute of the Air University, believes Chengdu J-20 is intended to be primarily used for destroying high-value airborne assets, which is an alternative way of establishing air superiority.

Rod Lee believes Chengdu J-20 has the maneuverability to engage in air superiority combat with other aircraft, but PLAAF has de-emphasized the traditional attrition warfare while advocating the "systems destruction" approach because they believe it is more effective.

Joe adds that the J-20's external physical configuration is a logical development of Chengdu's previous canard-delta designs: the Chengdu J-9 - particularly the "twin tail, side intake, canard delta" J-9V-II - from the 1960s and 1970s, and the Chengdu J-10 Furthermore, Joe said that stealth shaping is a much more universal and consistent trait that leaves limited room for variety, and that future international designs will likely reflect this.