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Key Points: China’s J-20 Mighty Dragon, a 5th-generation stealth fighter, highlights China’s alleged strategy of appropriating American and Russian designs to accelerate development. Resembling the F-22 and MiG 1.44, the J-20 integrates stolen technologies to produce a competitive stealth platform.

-Armed with beyond-visual-range missiles, capable of Mach 2.55 speeds, and equipped with indigenously built WS-10 engines, it matches some U.S. and Russian jets. Reports of J-20s penetrating Taiwanese airspace undetected underscore its threat.

-With China potentially eyeing a Taiwan invasion by 2027, the mass production of J-20s could tip the balance in a prolonged conflict, challenging U.S. and allied air superiority.

J-20 Mighty Dragon: How China’s Stealth Fighter Rises Through Espionage

The Chinese Stealth jet fighter program doesn’t waste time on costly research and development. 

I would argue that it steals the design when it sees something it wants or needs. And that could be a huge problem for the United States and its allies in Asia. 

How China Got Into the Stealth Fighter Game 

Many marvel at the rapid growth of modern weapons in China, especially in aviation.

The Chinese have a massive espionage arm of the Chinese government. They think nothing of stealing from friends and foes alike. 

A look at the “Chinese” military aircraft from the past 20 years or so, and it looks like you are looking at American or Russian aircraft. 

And in many cases…you likely are.  

J-20 Fighter. Image Credit: Chinese Internet.

So, regarding stealth, the Chinese didn’t have time to research and develop their stealth fighters, not to mention the cost. 

So, once again, they likely stole it. 

Is the J-20 Chinese, US, or Russian? Or All of the Above?

The Chengdu J-20, known as the Mighty Dragon, is China’s 5th Generation Stealth fighter jet.

The J-20S is designed for missions more similar to the US F-35 than the F-22, such as electronic warfare, suppressing enemy air defenses, and controlling unmanned aerial systems such as Loyal Wingmen. 

They have been able to mass-produce their aircraft. In a war of attrition, they’d win that battle unless change happened with the US defense industry, expanding the capability to produce more weapons of war faster and cheaper than China.

However, even Moscow should have concerns about the J-20 Russian aircraft producers, who took significant exception to the J-20 when it was unveiled in 2016. 

They claimed that the Chengdu looked like a copy of the MiG 1.44 fighter, a response to the F-22 Raptor. 

A Chinese national was arrested in Canada in 2014 named Su Bin ( aka Stephen Su) and two unidentified mainland Chinese cohorts were charged with stealing over 630,000 files relating to American aviation, including the C-17 Globemaster, the F-22, and the F-35 stealth fighters.

The Chengdu’s rear closely resembles a Mig 1.44, while its nose is almost indistinguishable from an F-22. Thus, the J-20 is most likely a combination of Russian and American technology. 

J-20 Specs

China’s warplane, like other stealth fighters, has to store its weapons in a storage bay. The J-20 has four beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles and within-visual-range (WVR) missiles. It can travel 1,000 nautical miles with internal fuel tanks. 

J-20 Stealth Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

J-20 Stealth Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The J-20’s speed tops out at Mach 2.55. It is capable of supercruise, flying supersonic without using fuel-intensive afterburners. The J-20 has a high ceiling and can reportedly reach 65,000 feet. China has indigenously produced the Shenyang WS-10 afterburning engine, which provides 30,000 pounds of thrust that now powers the J-20.

Those specs match up well with the F-22 and are undoubtedly a worthy adversary, which seemed like a pipe dream a decade ago. 

Recently, a J-20 pilot of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Captain Yang Jucheng of the “Wang Hai” Brigade, claimed that he overflew the entire island of Taiwan and was never once intercepted. He reportedly penetrated Taiwan’s airspace, and Taiwan’s air defense systems were utterly unaware that the aircraft was even there.

The J-20 Chengdu is a worthy adversary for the F-22 Raptor and even superior in some factors. 

And why not? The Chinese “have stood on the shoulders” of various American and Russian designs, cherry-picked the features of different aircraft, and assembled them to produce an actual fifth-generation stealth aircraft. 

J-20 Fighter

J-20 Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Recent intelligence estimates have the Chinese invading Taiwan by 2027. If they plan to take the island by force, I’d say it would be sooner, but that is just speculation. However, with the skies over Taiwan possibly flush with J-20s, U.S. and allies war planners will need to consider what that could mean and how best to respond. 

About the Author 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 1945, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.