Military Update
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The Chengdu J-20 has seen significant upgrades leading into 2025, and there's growing discussion about whether it's now a credible peer to Western fifth-gen fighters.
This recent article from Military Update covers the latest developments:
Chengdu J-20 Stealth Fighter
Key highlights:
- Transition to WS-15 engines, improving thrust and supercruise potential
- Enhanced avionics and sensor fusion capabilities
- Armed with PL-15 long-range missiles, potentially outranging AMRAAM
- Possible two-seat variant in development for drone control and AI integration
- Increasing deployments near Taiwan and the South China Sea
Given these factors, a few questions for discussion:
- Has the J-20 matured into a true fifth-generation platform, or is it still behind in stealth and combat systems?
- Could its integration with drones and long-range AAMs offset gaps in stealth and maneuverability?
- Strategically, how does it shift the regional air balance, particularly against the F-22, F-35, and allied assets?
Would appreciate insight from those tracking PLA-AF capabilities, or anyone with comparative analysis of U.S. and Chinese fifth-gen doctrine.