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Chengdu J-20

Updated: Wikipedia source

Chengdu J-20

The Chengdu J-20 (Chinese: 歼-20; pinyin: Jiān-Èrlíng), also known as Weilong (Chinese: 威龙; pinyin: Wēilóng; lit. 'Mighty Dragon', NATO reporting name: Fagin), is a twin-engine all-weather stealth fighter developed by China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 is designed as an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability. The aircraft has three notable variants: the initial production model, the revised airframe variant with new engines and thrust-vectoring control, and the aircraft-teaming capable twin-seat variant. Descending from the J-XX program of the 1990s, the aircraft made its maiden flight on 11 January 2011, and was officially revealed at the 2016 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition. The aircraft entered service in March 2017 with the first J-20 combat unit formed in February 2018, making China the second country in the world to field an operational stealth aircraft.

Infobox

Type
Stealth air superiority fighter
National origin
China
Manufacturer
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation
Designer
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation
Status
In service
Primary user
People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built
300 as of September 2025
Manufactured
2009–present
Introduction date
8 March 2017 (J-20) 3 September 2025 (J-20A/J-20S)
First flight
11 January 2011; 15 years ago
Developed from
J-XX

Tables

Engine models identified on the J-20 · Design › Engines
LO
LO
Engine type
LO
Introduction
TVC
Capabilities
SC
Shenyang WS-10B
Shenyang WS-10B
Engine type
Shenyang WS-10B
Introduction
2015
Capabilities
No
Capabilities
No
Capabilities
No
Saturn AL-31FM2
Saturn AL-31FM2
Engine type
Saturn AL-31FM2
Introduction
2011
Capabilities
No
Capabilities
No
Capabilities
No
Shenyang WS-10C
Shenyang WS-10C
Engine type
Shenyang WS-10C
Introduction
2019
Capabilities
Yes
Capabilities
No
Capabilities
Yes
Shenyang WS-10B-3
Shenyang WS-10B-3
Engine type
Shenyang WS-10B-3
Introduction
2019
Capabilities
Yes
Capabilities
Yes
Capabilities
No
Shenyang WS-15
Shenyang WS-15
Engine type
Shenyang WS-15
Introduction
2022
Capabilities
Yes
Capabilities
Yes
Capabilities
Yes
Note: aircraft and engine designations are cited from analysts' sources. Actual PLAAF designations could differ.
Note: aircraft and engine designations are cited from analysts' sources. Actual PLAAF designations could differ.
Engine type
Note: aircraft and engine designations are cited from analysts' sources. Actual PLAAF designations could differ.
Engine type
Introduction
Capabilities
LO
TVC
SC
Shenyang WS-10B
2015
No
No
No
Saturn AL-31FM2
2011
No
No
No
Shenyang WS-10C
2019
Yes
No
Yes
Shenyang WS-10B-3
2019
Yes
Yes
No
Shenyang WS-15
2022
Yes
Yes
Yes
Note: aircraft and engine designations are cited from analysts' sources. Actual PLAAF designations could differ.
· Operational history › Summary of program milestones
Precursor program (J-XX)
Precursor program (J-XX)
J-20 program milestone
Precursor program (J-XX)
Date
late-1990s
Notes
Solicitation for competing 5th generation fighter designs from Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aerospace Corporation
Program inception
Program inception
J-20 program milestone
Program inception
Date
~2008
Notes
CAC's twin-engine design with canards (project 718) selected by PLA; 1st flight expected to occur in the 2010-2011 time frame with service entry by 2019
First flight
First flight
J-20 program milestone
First flight
Date
11 January 2011
Notes
~15 minutes first flight made by prototype number "2002"
Low rate initial production
Low rate initial production
J-20 program milestone
Low rate initial production
Date
~December 2015
Notes
J-20 design reportedly frozen after flight by prototype number "2017" in late 2015; first suspected LRIP airframe (number "2101") appeared by 12/2015
Initial operational capability
Initial operational capability
J-20 program milestone
Initial operational capability
Date
~2017–2018
Notes
Entry into service and pilot training may have begun by March 2017 with initial combat exercises involving J-20s by January 2018
Active use of domestic powerplant
Active use of domestic powerplant
J-20 program milestone
Active use of domestic powerplant
Date
mid-2019 to mid-2021
Notes
J-20s produced after mid-2019 may all use domestic WS-10C engines instead of Russian AL-31F engines; J-20s with WS-10C in active service by June 2021
100th airframe
100th airframe
J-20 program milestone
100th airframe
Date
2021–2022
Notes
CAC announces mass production of J-20s in December 2021; US defense analysts estimate the number of produced and delivered J-20s to be at 50 to over 150 during the period from 2021 to mid-2022
200th airframe
200th airframe
J-20 program milestone
200th airframe
Date
late 2022–late 2023
Notes
Conservative western estimates place the number of J-20s in excess of 187 by the end of 2022 to early 2023; the total number of airframes in excess of 200 was possible by late 2022 and all but certain by the end of 2023
Tests with the WS-15
Tests with the WS-15
J-20 program milestone
Tests with the WS-15
Date
29 June 2023
Notes
First flight of prototype number "2052", a J-20 variant sporting two WS-15 engines, the intended powerplant for the aircraft, and other enhancements
200th to 250th airframe
200th to 250th airframe
J-20 program milestone
200th to 250th airframe
Date
~end of 2023
Notes
end of 2023 estimate by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Netherlands' Scramble magazine
J-20 program milestone
Date
Public sources
Notes
Precursor program (J-XX)
late-1990s
Solicitation for competing 5th generation fighter designs from Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aerospace Corporation
Program inception
~2008
CAC's twin-engine design with canards (project 718) selected by PLA; 1st flight expected to occur in the 2010-2011 time frame with service entry by 2019
First flight
11 January 2011
~15 minutes first flight made by prototype number "2002"
Low rate initial production
~December 2015
J-20 design reportedly frozen after flight by prototype number "2017" in late 2015; first suspected LRIP airframe (number "2101") appeared by 12/2015
Initial operational capability
~2017–2018
Entry into service and pilot training may have begun by March 2017 with initial combat exercises involving J-20s by January 2018
Active use of domestic powerplant
mid-2019 to mid-2021
J-20s produced after mid-2019 may all use domestic WS-10C engines instead of Russian AL-31F engines; J-20s with WS-10C in active service by June 2021
100th airframe
2021–2022
CAC announces mass production of J-20s in December 2021; US defense analysts estimate the number of produced and delivered J-20s to be at 50 to over 150 during the period from 2021 to mid-2022
200th airframe
late 2022–late 2023
Conservative western estimates place the number of J-20s in excess of 187 by the end of 2022 to early 2023; the total number of airframes in excess of 200 was possible by late 2022 and all but certain by the end of 2023
Tests with the WS-15
29 June 2023
First flight of prototype number "2052", a J-20 variant sporting two WS-15 engines, the intended powerplant for the aircraft, and other enhancements
200th to 250th airframe
~end of 2023
end of 2023 estimate by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Netherlands' Scramble magazine

References

  1. Sources differs on whether WS-10C supports limited or full supersonic cruise
  2. Some sources claimed the aircraft with open compartment doors was a new prototype, however, this is likely a confusion c
  3. WS-10C was used on the production J-20; early production batches were equipped with the Salyut AL-31FM2 with similar thr
  4. Jane's 360
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181202054926/https://www.janes.com/article/77794/plaaf-inducts-j-20-into-combat-units
  5. The Aviationist
    https://theaviationist.com/2025/09/17/china-300th-j-20/
  6. Australian Aviation
    http://australianaviation.com.au/2010/12/chinese-stealth-fighter-unveiled/
  7. South China Morning Post
    https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2077732/chinas-j-20-stealth-fighter-flies-fighting-forces-says-state-media
  8. The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180414012303/http://www.scio.gov.cn/32618/Document/1544722/1544722.htm
  9. China Daily
    https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/619168
  10. The Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704428004576075042571461586
  11. Aviation Week & Space Technology
    http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3Afea956a2-94a3-4110-a4d2-880ae0b7d3bd
  12. Air Force Technology
    https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/chengdu-j20
  13. The Aviationist
    https://theaviationist.com/2018/12/09/usaf-confirms-the-chinese-j-20-spotted-in-georgia-is-a-mock-up-used-for-training-by-the-u-s-marine-corps/
  14. Business Insider
    https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-built-fake-chinese-j-20-stealth-fighter-to-train-marines-2018-12
  15. odin
    https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/1a9360fae727a181597777e7a82d0dbb
  16. "Does China's J-20 rival other stealth fighters?"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180223224836/https://chinapower.csis.org/china-chengdu-j-20/
  17. Aviation Weekly
    https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/face-it-chinas-j-20-fifth-generation-fighter
  18. War China
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161102232159/http://www.warchina.com/news/ent/2010-11-05/124805.html
  19. Jane's 360
    http://www.janes.com/article/72781/china-s-j-20-fighter-makes-parade-debut
  20. News
    http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/with-the-j20-stealth-fighter-in-fully-operational-military-service-china-leaps-ahead-in-asian-arms-race/news-story/d5a65bfd8da252a1bb0240026591d575
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