BEIJING – China’s J 20 is a single seat steath fighter jet for air-to-air,air-to-ground combat roles with supersonic cruise speed and integratedavionics which was test flown for the first time on January 11, 2011.

The jet, developed and manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group(CAIG), is 20.3-20.5 metres long, has a height of 4.45 metres and itswingspan is 12.88-13.50 metres. The maximum take-off weight is34,000-37,000 kg. The fighter’s range is about 1,200 kilometres which canbe increased up to 2,700 kilometres with external fuel tanks.

While the J-20 is currently powered by the Russian AL-31 engines, China isworking in a new and more powerful WS-15 (Emei) afterburning turbofanengine for the fighter for sustained supersonic speed. The aircraft can flyat a maximum speed of 2,100 kilometres per hour (about 1.8 mach) and itsclimbing rate is 304 metres per second.

There are two lateral bays with four hardpoints each for air-to-air missileslink>whilethe fuselage has a larger bay under it for carrying missiles and otherweapons. It also has an internal cannon. It is equipped with an AESA radaralong with a chin-mounted infrared/electro-optic search and track sensor.

The Chinese also claim that the J-20 has a passive electro-opticaldetection system which gives the pilot 360° coverage. The fighter, whichhas a glass cockpit with a bubble-shaped canopy, can access real-time datafrom Chinese military satellites, Divine Eagle anti-stealth Unmanned AerialVehicles and other airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems.

The J-20 cockpit has two liquid crystal displays (LCD) and a head-updisplay (HUD). The J-20 can be operated through the traditional hands-onthrottle and stick (HOTAS) system.