Threat of the Week
The J-20 (FAGIN) Chinese Stealth Air Superiority Fighter is a single-seat, multirole stealth fighter aircraft, the Chengdu J-20 is manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) of China. It is a fifth-generation aircraft being built for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 is designed to execute ground attack missions even in hostile environments. The aircraft can reach higher altitudes with its delta wings in supersonic speeds.
The J-20 has a long and blended fuselage, with a chiseled nose section and a frameless canopy. Immediately behind the cockpit are low-observable diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) intakes. All-moving canard surfaces with pronounced dihedral are placed behind the intakes, followed by leading edge extensions (LERX) merging into the delta wing with forward-swept trailing edges. The aft section has twin outward canted all-moving fins, short but deep ventral strakes, and conventional or low-observable engine exhausts.
The intended powerplant is the Shenyang WS-15 with a thrust of 180 kN. The WS-15 enables supercruise, enhances maneuverability, and gives the J-20 more thrust than the F-22 and F-35. The engines extra power and cooling could also be used by future directed energy weapons and sensors. The WS-15 development was reportedly ongoing in 2019. In March 2022, Chinese state media reported that the J-20 had performed flight trials with the engine and experienced significantly improved performance. It was also reported that eventually, new production and existing aircraft powered by the AL-31 would be fitted with the WS-15. In April 2023, China reported that the WS-15 was ready for mass production.
The J-20 is reported to lack an internal autocannon or rotary cannon, suggesting the aircraft is not intended to be used in short range dogfight engagements with other aircraft but engage them with from long standoff ranges with missiles such as the PL-15 and PL-21.
