Reviewing China’s New Stealth Fighters

Summary

KEY POINTS:

1. J-20S Twin-Seat Stealth Fighter: After years of speculation, images have confirmed the existence of a twin-seat variant of China's J-20 stealth fighter. This marks the first successful flight of a twin-seat fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
2. Overall Design: The J-20S maintains the general size and configuration of the original single-seat J-20, based on preliminary images.
3. J-XY Carrier-borne Stealth Fighter: Known to be developed from the FC-31 technology demonstrator, this fifth-generation fighter, referred to as J-35 or J-XY, is confirmed to be intended for aircraft carrier use through visible catapult launch bar and wing fold lines.
4. Mysterious Tailless Airframe: Satellite imagery has revealed a tailless aircraft at Chengdu with a large delta wing and no visible tails or horizontal stabilizers, suggesting potential sixth-generation aircraft development. Its function and flyability are yet to be confirmed.
5. Upcoming H-20 Stealthy Strategic Bomber: The much-anticipated H-20 stealth bomber is expected to debut within the next two years. Advanced stages of construction for prototype airframes have been reported.

References

Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:

• Australia and the Growing Reach of China’s military | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• China military watch | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• China’s Bid for Maritime Primacy in an Era of Total Competition | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• Australia must adopt unorthodox options to disrupt China’s grey-zone threat. | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)

References from the Web:

• Feb 2021  China’s new bomber should be cause for concern for Australia—ASPI
• July 2021 China’s first stealth fighter for aircraft carriers is emerging, but a big problem still weighs it down—Business Insider
• Sep 2021 China’s biggest air-show to highlight military prowess—Aljazeera
• Sep 2021  China preps rollout of a new carrier-based fighter jet—Defense News
• Nov 2021 Report: New Stealth Aircraft and Capabilities in China’s Air Arms Eroding U.S. Advantages—Air Force Magazine

Source Information:

• Article Source: The Diplomat
• Media Check: The Diplomat (mediabiasfactcheck.com)  (sources link)
• Learning Outcomes: RUNWAY Topics, Learning Outcomes | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)