Even three years later — when the

definitive prototypes were spotted and

four of the fighters entered flight-testing

— many still questioned its status and

above all its chances of entering service

before the 2020s. The J-20A has now

been in service since late 2016, is in

quantity production and has finally been

seen with a Chinese engine.

Genesis

The J-20 program was first disclosed

by the US Office of Naval Intelligence

in 1997 and was originally known in

the West as the XXJ or J-XX. In China,

it was officially Project 718. Back then

it was known that both China’s major

fighter aircraft manufacturers — the

Shenyang Aircraft Industry Corporation

(SAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Industry

Corporation (CAC) — had been working

The Chengdu J-20A stealth fighter was officially

commissioned into PLAAF service on September 28 this

year. Combat Aircraft looks at the aircraft’s story so far.

report: Andreas Rupprecht

RISE

OF THE MIGHTY

W

U QIAN, A

spokesperson

for China’s

Ministry of

National

Defense,

announced the official service entry

of the J-20A. According to the limited

information released on the ministry’s

website and during a press conference,

all flight tests have been conducted as

scheduled.

While the J-20A is the undoubted star

of China’s current fighter developments,

since its maiden flight in January 2011

it has relied on Russian engines, fitted

to all prototypes and low-rate initial

production (LRIP) models. Now it finally

seems that this is to change.

Much has been written about the J-20A.

Analysts, spotters and enthusiasts have

eagerly followed the project’s progress

since its sudden appearance in late 2010.

Many onlookers were surprised when it

made its maiden flight in January 2011

and others were sure that the unique

black aircraft on the runway at Chengdu

was a technology demonstrator at best.

FIGHTER FOCUS | J-20

http://www.combataircraft.net January 2018

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