The Chinese Chengdu J-20 "Black Eagle" is a 5th Generation fighter design exhibiting stealth characteristics not unlike the American Lockheed F-22 Raptor. The Chinese military industry has long held a reliance on outside help, particularly from the Soviets/Russians, to make her a force to be reckoned with in the modern world. As such, most of their Cold War-era inventory was made up largely of Soviet fighter and bomber designs. While this was something of an effective measure for the time, is also doubled as a vital learning experience for Chinese engineers who worked on reengineering various weapon systems and airframes - even some that were illegally copied to begin with. This ended up producing some adequate indigenous offerings but it has not been until recently that the Chinese military began producing indigenous military aircraft of note. Backed by a large influx of cash from its burgeoning economy, China has begun a process of modernization that include the development of a 5th Generation stealth-minded fighter. The Chengdu and Shenyang aviation firms - both having garnered decades of experience with Soviet/Russian designs - are two of the top performers for the Chinese military for aircraft concerns. That, along with suspected Chinese cyberespionage of Western information, are thought to be the driving force for the development of the new J-20.
In fact, according to a BBC report dated January 24th, 2011, Balkan military sources state that the technology behind the new J-20 may have actually been based on the downed Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk "stealth fighter" lost to a Serbian surface-to-air missile during the Bosnian-Kosovo air war in 1999. The incident resulted the first and only time that an F-117 was downed by enemy fire in a hostile environment. The thinking is that some of the debris may have fallen into the hands of Chinese operatives active in the country. The Chinese and Serbian governments thought to have maintained a close relationship at the time of the war so the exchange of technologies seems plausible. The idea of the modernization-crazy Chinese taking the F-117 debris, studying them and reverse-engineering them to understand the technology and concepts is a viable initial source for the technology utilized in the new J-20 platform. Portions of the same F-117 - the left wing assembly, ejection seat used by the pilot to escape, the onboard radio system and the canopy were claimed by the Belgrade Aviation Museum and went on display. The whereabouts of the other surviving portions of the aircraft went unknown, presumably collected by a handful of farmers in the area and subsequently sold to "interested" parties like the Chinese. Of course all of this remains speculation but it does play well into the scenario of what the appearance of the J-20 means today. One can assume it is based on the 1970s technology utilized to jumpstart the American stealth program mixed in with modern engineering learned by Chinese engineers to the procurement across decades of Russian technology.
The Chengdu J-20 attempts to cover what has been proven in other fighter designs to date (both 4th and 5th Generation types) and is the culmination of the latest in Chinese supercruise capabilities, airframe maneuverability, STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) qualities and stealth technology. Stealth design philosophies of the J-20 revolve around much of what makes the American F-22 Raptor stand out in a crowd. Conscious attempts have been made to ensure that the new Chinese aircraft can compete successfully with the best that the major superpowers have to offer including use of strategic angles to deflect radar emissions, radar absorbing materials to retard the aircraft's radar signature and an internal weapons bay to promote a less faceted radar target. The J-20 is believed to be on par with the American F-22 and F-35 fighters and the upcoming Russian Sukhoi T-50/PAK FA currently in development - joining an elite group of modern fighters to say the least. Should she enter service within the next decade, the Chinese will take yet another step towards being seen as a legitimate world superpower and major military player - particularly in a region where their influence is well known. While the US intelligence community originally estimated that the Chinese would not have a competent stealth-minded aircraft until 2020 or later, the Chinese are expecting their J-20 to be operational beginning in 2018, perhaps even as early as 2017. At any rate, the arrival of the J-20 will drive the modernization of the Chinese military even further - a fact that has many persons in Washington, the Pacific and throughout Asia quietly worried.
The Chinese undertook a variety of aircraft development programs throughout the 1990s to which the West utilized such designation markers as "J-XX", "J-X" and "XXJ" to delineate these different endeavors. At their core, the programs sought to fulfill a requirement for a new indigenous Chinese 5th Generation fighter platform to be rated on par with any other such aircraft in the world. The end-product of the J-XX program became the J-20 "Black Eagle", a collaborative effort between the Chinese firms of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Two airframes were completed by November of 2010 with these prototypes designated internally as "S/N 2001" and "S/N 2002". These are expected to serve as test flight and stationary stress test examples respectively. Construction of the airframe is said to center on heavy use of advanced composites for maintaining inherent stealth characteristics but also make for a substantially cheaper product to manufacturer on a large scale when compared to her global counterparts. However, some have questioned the availability of such advanced composites in quantity for the Chinese, leading some to believe that these components might be imported into the country.
Internally, the J-20 will sport the latest in Chinese fly-by-wire technology and advanced fire control and engine management features. The pilot will most likely control the aircraft through a traditional HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) arrangement and have access to a single, wide-angle, full-color "glass" cockpit liquid crystal display ala the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II. In conjunction with the LCD may be a helmet-mounted sight system for the pilot. A wide-angle HUD (Head-Up Display) will provide pertinent performance and mission information to the pilot above the instrument panel.
While sources vary on the exact powerplant types to be used in the J-20, it is suspected that the Russians will deliver Saturn 117S (AL-31) series engines rated at approximately 32,000lbs of thrust to the Chinese. This may be an interim solution due to delays in the development of indigenous thrust-vectoring engine. Chinese sources state the indigenous engine design effort to be the WS-10 or WS-17 series turbofan powerplant outputting at about 30,000lbs of thrust. These will incorporated thrust-vectoring nozzles for significantly improved maneuverability and supercruise capability.
It is only natural to compare the Chinese J-20 with the established American F-22 Raptor. While there are some visual similarities to the casual observer, further inspection quickly dispels the thinking that the J-20 is an exact copy of the American fighter. The J-20 makes use of a large-area delta wing design without traditional tail surfaces whereas the F-22 make use of a diamond-type wing arrangement with horizontal tail surfaces aft of the main wing assemblies. The J-20 also features ventral fins and forward canards, two design elements not utilized by any other 5th Generation stealth-minded fighter for they tend to compromise stealth characteristics. The J-20 is significantly larger than her American competitor and longer from nose to tail, leading most to assume that the J-20 design is focused on range and an expanded weapons capability needed to cover the vast Chinese airspace. The J-20's supercruise capability is largely unknown though general thinking is that the F-22 would have the advantage in this field due to its size and proven capabilities. The J-20 does share a similar nose design and also sports a similar single-piece canopy consistent with the F-22. Presumably, the radar array is housed in the nose cone though it may be a borrowed system from the Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKK as Chinese radar technology is generally thought to be lacking when compared to those available to the Russians and the Americans.
The J-20 completed a much publicized taxiing trial on January 6th, 2011 at the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute airfield within the Sichuan Province (Southwestern China). Taxiing trials are often the forerunner to a complete flight cycle test perhaps upcoming in 2011. At this pace, and barring any significant delays, the J-20 will certainly achieve operational service by the end of the decade.
Some Western news sources have dismissed the appearance of the available J-20 photographs as a nothing more than propaganda by the Chinese authorities to showcase a mockup fighter design and not a true working prototype. However, amateur footage clearly shows the prototype J-20 taxiing under its own power, looking every bit like a functional prototype the Chinese authorities are claiming. As the media in China is state-run, the release of the photographs was most likely a planned event to influence political thinking in the region - a region where the United States has, for decades, flexed their muscle.
If the 2017-2018 operational year holds, the J-20 could be in line to replace the outgoing Su-27Sk "Flanker-B", Su-30MKK "Flanker-G" and (possibly) Su-30MK2 "Flanker-G) multirole aircraft of Russian origin. A first batch order of several hundred aircraft could be expected.
As an aside, the Chinese classify the J-20 as a 4th Generation fighter design which, in Western nomenclature, is equal to a 5th Generation aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35. As of this writing, the F-22 is the only operational 5th Generation fighter in the world.
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October 2016 - The J-20 was debuted overhead at Airshow China 2016, China's largest aircraft-related exhibition. A pair of J-20 aircraft were witnessed passing above the crowds.
December 2016 - The J-20 is expected to enter formal service with the Chinese Air Force sometime in 2017.
January 2017 - It has been reported that low-rate initial production of the J-20 has begun. Four Sukhoi Su-35 fighters have been received by Russia in what is hoped to be the last purchase of foreign fighters by Beijing.
September 2017 - It was announced by the Chinese Ministry of Defense that the J-20 fighter had finally reached operational service with the Chinese Air Force. it was expected to achieve this milestone in 2018. Estimates state between six and twenty of the fighters are currently in service.
March 2018 - Chinese media has revealed that the PLAAF intends to developed the J-20 into several prominent variants to undertake missions beyond air superiority. These will include Electronic Warfare (EW) and a broadened ground-attack capability. A ramjet-powered missile for the series is also in the works - this to be used to directly attack such logistical platforms as over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) aircraft and aerial tankers mission support aircraft. It was also stated that the J-20 will not be exported to Chinese allies and remained solely a Chinese PLAAF product. The FC-31 by AVIC (detailed elsewhere on this site) will satisfy the export role.
November 2018 - For the first time publicly, the J-20 was showcased at Zhuhai Air Show 2018 with a full complement of missile armament in its internal bay during a fly-by demonstration. Four medium-ranged missiles were shown in a side-by-side arrangement in the bay with a pair of outboard short-ranged missiles featured along the intake sides (externally mounted).
April 2020 - As of April 2020, there have been eight prototypes and 20 initial production forms of the J-20 fighter series built for a total of 28 airframes.
June 2020 - China has begun equipping its J-20 fleet with the new PL-15 active, radar-guided very-long-range air-to-air missile.
October 2021 - A J-20 with indigenous engines was debuted at Airshow China 2021 at Zhuhai, showcasing a considerable evolution of the product line.
November 2021 - A twin-seat prototype variant of the single-seat J-20 was debuted in Chinese media.
July 2022 - Pictures were released showing the new J-20AS prototype fighter.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
Length
75.5 ft (23.00 m)
Width/Span
49.2 ft (15.00 m)
Height
16.4 ft (5.00 m)
Empty Wgt
38,801 lb (17,600 kg)
MTOW
77,162 lb (35,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+38,360 lb (+17,400 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle) production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / delta, w canards
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Delta with Canards
The delta planform is enhanced by way of canards (small foreplanes) seated ahead of the mainplanes, improving angle-of-attack and low-speed / stall control.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle) production variant)
Installed:
2 x Xian WS-15 turbofan engines developing 27,500 lb thrust each with afterburner.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Use of various Russian/Chinese air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation missiles, laser-guided bombs and conventional drop bombs are assumed. A standard internal cannon for close-in combat is likely.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 8
Mounting Points
X
-
-
9
7
5
-
-
-
4
6
8
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
J-20 - Base Series Designation.
J-20A - Initial production model of 2017; reaching IOC in September 2021.
J-20B - Twin-seat variant debuted November 2021.
J-20S - Alternative designation for J-20B.
J-20AS - Advanced prototype form of 2022.
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
88
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 1400mph
Lo: 700mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (1,305mph).
Graph average of 1,050 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Chengdu J-20 (Black Eagle) operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (55)
55
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
>>
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
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