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Minnie Chan

A modified version of China’s first stealth fighter jet, the J-20, has formally entered mass production, with upgrades earning it a place as a fifth-generation fighter jet, according to a military source close to the project.
The moment was marked at a ceremonial unveiling of the modified J-20B stealth fighter jet on Wednesday attended by many senior military leaders including Central Military Commission (CMC) vice-chairman General Zhang Youxia, the source said.
Zhang is the second-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and is in charge of weapons development for the People’s Liberation Army.
“Mass production of the J-20B started on Wednesday. It has finally become a complete stealth fighter jet, with its agility meeting the original criteria,” the source said.
“The most significant change to the fighter jet is that it is now equipped with thrust vector control.”
China deploys J-20 stealth fighter ‘to keep tabs on Taiwan’
Thrust vector control (TVC) allows pilots to better control the aircraft by redirecting engine thrust.
In 2018, China debuted its J-10C multirole fighter – fitted with a WS-10 Taihang engine – at the China air show in Zhuhai, putting the aircraft through its paces in a performance that indicated that China had succeeded in thrust technology.
While the TVC technology had been applied to the stealth fighter, the J-20B would still use Russian Saturn AL-31 engines because more work needed to be done on China’s WS-15 engine, the source said.
Chinese engineers have been developing high-thrust turbofan WS-15 engines for the J-20, but that work has fallen behind schedule.
“The Chinese engine designed for the J-20s still failed to meet requirements, but its development is going quite smoothly, and it may be ready in the next one or two years,” the source said.
“The ultimate goal is to equip the J-20B fighter jets with domestic engines.”
China was thought to have built about 50 J-20s by the end of 2019, but problems with the jets’ engines delayed further production plans.


Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth assembly plant in Texas delivered 134 F-35 stealth fighters in 2019, three more than its target and 47 per cent more than its output in 2018, according to the company.
China’s first batch of J-20s entered service in 2017 when the US decided to deploy more than 100 F-35s to Japan and South Korea that year.
The J-20 was meant to be a fifth-generation fighter jet on a par with Lockheed’s F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning multirole strike fighters.
Fifth-generation fighters are defined by their stealth technology, supersonic cruising speed, super manoeuvrability, and highly integrated avionics.
But the earlier version of the J-20 was described by Western media as a “dedicated interceptor aircraft” because of its lack of agility.
“The launch of the J-20B means this aircraft now is a formal fifth-generation fighter jet,” the military source said, adding that Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC), which manufactures the J-20s, had received “heavy orders” from the PLA.
CAC set up its fourth production line in 2019, each one with a capacity to make about one J-20 a month.





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China's military weapons

China’s stealth fighter goes into mass production after thrust upgrade

China’s first J-20 stealth fighter jets entered service in 2017. Photo: AP

Could China’s unwanted FC-31 Gyrfalcon stealth fighter finally land a role in the navy?

An FC-31 at an air show in 2014. Photo: AFP

China’s long-range Xian H-20 stealth bomber could make its debut this year

An artist’s impression of what the H-20 may look like. Photo: Weibo

FILE - In this undated file photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a Chinese H-6K bomber patrols the islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The Chinese air force says it has landed long-range bombers for the first time on an island in the South China Sea island, a move that could greatly expand its ability to strike across Southeast Asia and further afield. A statement from the Defense Ministry late Friday, May 18, 2018, said the exercise was conducted on an island reef, but it did not specify when or where. The ministry said it involved several H-6K bombers taking off from an air base and simulating strikes against sea targets before landing. (Liu Rui/Xinhua via AP, File)

PLA Air Force formation ‘a sign of stealth fighter mass production’ in China

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force released video of a flight of several J-20 jets, suggesting China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter is in mass production. Photo: Xinhua

China is showing off its biggest squadron of fifth-generation stealth fighters ever, suggesting the plane has been in mass production since an arms race is rising in the region.ÊIn a latest video released by the PeopleÕs Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) on Tuesday, a formation of seven Chengdu J-20 jets was for the first time seen flying together in training.Ê Photo:Xinhua

China must make more J-20 stealth jets to meet air force demand, say military analysts

Analysts say the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has high expectations of the J-20 stealth fighter’s capabilities. Photo: Xinhua

Picture of PLA Air Force video of the J-20 jet. Photo:weixin

China’s navy ‘set to pick J-20 stealth jets for its next generation carriers’

The J-20 stealth fighter is likely to be modified to serve on China’s next generation aircraft carriers. Photo: Xinhua

This photo taken on April 24, 2018 shows a J15 fighter jet landing on China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, during a drill at sea. A flotilla of Chinese naval vessels held a "live combat drill" in the East China Sea, state media reported early April 23, 2018, the latest show of force by Beijing's burgeoning navy in disputed waters that have riled neighbours. / AFP PHOTO / - / China OUT

Screen captures of China Central Television's Military Documentary program on August 16 showed a computer virtual video about China's first active stealth fighter jets are flying on an aircraft carrier. Photo: CCTV

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The J-20B has overcome agility problems to finally be considered a fully fledged fifth-generation fighter, military source says
Aircraft still will be fitted with Russian engine but ‘Chinese version could be ready in a year or two’



The J-20B has overcome agility problems to finally be considered a fully fledged fifth-generation fighter, military source says.


China’s stealth fighter goes into mass production after thrust upgrade

The J-20B has overcome agility problems to finally be considered a fully fledged fifth-generation fighter, military source says Aircraft still will be fitted with Russian engine but ‘Chinese version could be ready in a year or two’

The J-20B has overcome agility problems to finally be considered a fully fledged fifth-generation fighter, military source says

Aircraft still will be fitted with Russian engine but ‘Chinese version could be ready in a year or two’