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Threat to U.S. Military?: The J-20S, China’s twin-seat variant of the J-20 Mighty Dragon, showcased at the Zhuhai Air Show, exemplifies the nation’s strides in fifth-generation airpower.

-Equipped with the indigenous WS-15 engine, enhanced stealth capabilities, and internal weapons storage, the J-20S serves as a command-and-control node for drone swarms and networked operations. Its versatile design supports electronic warfare and integrates seamlessly into China’s theater commands, particularly near Taiwan and the South China Sea.

-Seen as a testbed for future sixth-generation technologies, including quantum radar and Loyal Wingman drones, the J-20S underscores China’s rising parity—and potential dominance—in advanced aerial combat systems.

China’s J-20S Fighter: A Game-Changer in Modern Aerial Warfare?

China’s Zhuhai Air Show conducted last month in Guangdong will be one for the history books. It was at this dynamic showing of the capabilities of multiple foreign nations (especially those of China and Russia) that American observers were shocked to see the advances these two rival nations had made. 

For Russia, the most impressive display they put on was for the Sukhoi Design Bureau’s elusive fifth-generation warplane, the Su-57 “Felon.” In China’s case, they had quite a few significant displays. The J-20S “Mighty Dragon” was one of their most notable exhibitions. 

The new aircraft is basically the twin-seat version of the Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon.” Like its parent, the J-20S is part of the fifth-generation of warplanes. 

J-20S: From Imitation to Innovation 

As I’ve written elsewhere, the J-20, after years of modifications, is probably the most serious challenger to America’s vaunted fifth-generation air superiority warplane, the F-22A Raptor. In fact, many Western observers have long accused Beijing of having stolen the designs for the F-22 and using it for their J-20 knockoff. 

There is likely much truth in that. However, from where China imitates the United States, it very often spins off and innovates. 

This is self-evident in the appearance of the aircraft. It looks similar to other warplanes, such as the F-22 but also the F-35 Lightning II. It also looks uncannily like Russia’s MiG-1.44 (which Moscow, at one point in the 1990s, accused China of having stolen). Yet, unlike any of these nations with fifth-generation birds, China possesses a two-seater. Chinese designers of the J-20S wanted to take the success of the J-20 original variant and fixate on enhancing its command-and-control (C2) functions. 

The need for advanced operational roles beyond traditional air combat influenced the development of the J-20S. This new aircraft is part of China’s President Xi Jinping’s push for “Made in China 2025,” an ambitious plan to make China as self-reliant in producing critical defense and civilian technologies as possible (by the year 2025, as its name suggests).

Impressive Capabilities for J-20S

China’s new stealth warplane incorporates the new WS-15 high-thrust turbofan engine, addressing earlier concerns about engine performance and reliability that had plagued the original J-20 fleet. The indigenously built Chinese engine is known for its high thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing for supercruise and enhanced maneuverability, which are crucial for modern aerial engagements.

China’s J-20 stealth fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Like its single-seat predecessor, the plane maintains stealth characteristics with its radar-absorbing materials and design, which significantly reduces its radar cross-section. This stealth capability is enhanced by its ability to carry weapons internally, just as the F-22 does, minimizing drag and detection. 

By adding a second crewmember onboard the aircraft, the bird can serve as a tactical command node, managing drone swarms, coordinating with other aircraft, or directing operations in a combat cloud environment. 

Therefore, the operational effectiveness of this plane is extended beyond itself and for the entire airwing operating in tandem with it—including the unmanned systems supporting it.

As for the unmanned systems in its midst, the J-20S is designed to control “Loyal Wingman” drones, integrating them into combat operations. This capability effectively gives the J-20S (and the airwing it is operating in) significant force multipliers. Complex mission profiles can be assigned to the Loyal Wingmen drones. Operators aboard the J-20S could delegate tasks to these unmanned assets, enhancing operational flexibility and reducing risk to human pilots.

It is believed that the J-20S is equipped to perform electronic warfare tasks, potentially disrupting enemy communications, radar, and guidance systems. This multifunctionality makes it versatile in both offensive and defensive air operations. 

J-20

J-20. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.

Chinese strategists intend for the J-20S to be deployed across China’s key theater commands, notably in regions where strategic deterrence or air superiority is crucial, such as near Taiwan, the South China Sea, and along borders with India. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has been expanding its overall J-20 fleet, with the J-20S expected to complement these deployments, enhancing China’s overall network-centric warfare capabilities.

A Testbed for China’s Sixth-Generation “White Emperor” Plane?

Indeed, PLAAF planners will likely have the J-20S working alongside older, fourth-generation warplanes, such as the J-11 or the Su-27, which are already being relegated to secondary roles as China moves forward with the development and deployment of their fifth-generation birds. In fact, the J-20S is going to play a pivotal role in the PLAAF’s vision for a fully fifth-generation force. 

Over time, China will likely confer greater enhancements in the J-20S’ avionics and radar systems, as well as integration with future technologies like quantum radar (which China is leading the world in developing). Another plane that was “demonstrated” (it was a mock-up) at the Zuhai Air Show was China’s proposed sixth-generation warplane, the “White Emperor.” Many of the technologies, such as the “Loyal Wingman” concept, are believed to be integral for China’s sixth-generation plane. 

Therefore, this new warplane might be a testbed for successful technologies that will form the basis of the “White Emperor” being developed by China.

J-20 Fighter. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.

J-20 Fighter Image: Chinese Internet.

This warplane is one of the most advanced fighters in the world. Given China’s excellent mass production capabilities and its indigenous high-tech sector, the idea that his bird will not be a threat to American fifth-generation birds is foolish. The J-20S is yet another example of how China has caught up to the Americans—and is now starting to surpass Uncle Sam in some key areas. Areas, by the way, that might prove decisive in a future war.

About the Author 

Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior Editor at 19FortyFive.com and a contributor at Popular Mechanics, consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, The American Spectator, and the National Interest. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.