Fighter jets are without a doubt some of the most fearsome and impressive military aircraft ever made. They form the backbone of many air arms, and no matter who you are, you always stop and stare when you see them fly. Something that is of course highly impressive with all of these aircraft is simply how fast they are. Over the years, fighter aircraft have got faster and faster, and they are of course getting even more technologically advanced. One rather mysterious aircraft that is coming to the fore at the moment is the Chinese Chengdu J-20.

There was a time when China would simply use bought or license-built versions of Russian jets. And to an extent, they still use such aircraft. However, in more recent times, China has been able to build its own fleet of high-performance jet fighters as they seek to rival the West. One of the most incredible has to be the Chengdu J-20. Called the Mighty Dragon, this incredible aircraft first took flight over ten years ago and entered service in 2017. It was the world’s third operational fifth-generation stealth fighter, and the fastest aircraft in service with the Chinese air force.

The Development Of The Mighty Dragon

While the Mighty Dragon first took flight in the 21st century, the aircraft can trace its origins back to the J-XX program of the late 1990s. This was a series of programs set up to develop China’s own fifth-generation fighter, that would result in the Shenyang FC-31 and then eventually the J-20 Mighty Dragon itself. The J-20 would make use of technology from previous Chinese aircraft such as the double-canard design from their own J-10, an aircraft in service in China since 2005.

The J-20 was initially set to take flight in 2010 or 2011 with its introduction into service initially set for 2019. That first flight prediction was very accurate, with the J-20 making its first flight in March 2011, three months after high speed taxi trials at the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute. Across the testing program a few changes were made to the aircraft, such as a new low-observable intake and stealth coating to the aircraft. It is of course hard to get totally accurate information out of China but the aircraft entered production in 2015, after a new J-20 numbered 2101 was spotted.

A Mysterious Yet Capable Looking Jet Fighter

The J-20 is without a doubt one of the most impressive fighter aircraft currently in active service. Its power comes from two Shenyang WS-10C afterburning turbofans, and these propel the aircraft to a top speed of Mach 2.0. Estimates of the actual top speed of the jet put it at around the 2,100 km/h mark, which equates to roughly 1,304 mph. Make no mistake, this a very potent aircraft. Its purpose isn’t entirely clear, whether the aircraft will form an F-35 style role that can take on many missions, or become a pure air superiority fighter like the F-22 Raptor.

Its stealth capabilities though are at least said to be on a part with the F-35 and F-22. The fuselage, engine intake and exhaust nozzle all look very similar to those on the American jets. When it comes to engines though, what currently powers the J-20, the WS-10C engine, is still quite behind the XA100 engine that we see in the F-35. China is apparently developing a new, WS-15 engine that should allow the aircraft to have super cruise capability, and it will bring its engine tech more in-line with that of the Western fighters.

A Threat To The Stealth Aircraft Of The West

The J-20 is quite a significant aircraft. While we do not know everything about it, we know it is fast, we know it is agile, and we know it is a true stealth aircraft. It has capabilities that can rival Western jets, ranging from the F-22 to the Eurofighter Typhoon. What it does show though is that China is perhaps no longer reliant on Russian technology. Everything they will have learnt from using Russian jets has been applied to make their own, high-performance aircraft that might be more potent than the likes of the troubled Sukhoi Su-57 that Russia is currently struggling to get into service.

A Glimpse Into The Future Of Chinese Air Power

The J-20 is a truly incredible design. Its long and blended fuselage, double canards and other design features mean its stands out and looks every bit the Mighty Dragon that it is called. It has a fearsome weapon bay too like other fifth generation fighters, and it is a highly agile machine. The West is certainly keeping an eye on the J-20 to see just how potent it will be, and it can certainly match up to the likes of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle fourth generation fighters. China has certainly built an impressive machine.