Chengdu J-20
The Chengdu J-20 (Chinese: 歼-20; pinyin: Jiān-Èrlíng), also known as Mighty Dragon (Chinese: 威龙; pinyin: Wēilóng, NATO reporting name: Fagin), is a twinjet all-weather stealth fifth-generation fighter fighter aircraft developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace 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 variants: the initial production model J-20A, the thrust-vectoring J-20B, and twin-seat aircraft teaming capable J-20S.
| J-20 Mighty Dragon | |
|---|---|
| J-20 flight at the 2022 Changchun Air Show | |
| Role | Stealth air superiority fighter |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Chengdu Aerospace Corporation |
| First flight | 11 January 2011; 13 years ago |
| Introduction | 9 March 2017 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Produced | 2009–present |
| Number built | 210~250+ (as of 2023) |
| Developed from | J-XX |
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 and the first in Asia to field an operational stealth aircraft.