Chinese Media Confirms First J-20 Stealth Fighter Unit With New Engines Assigned to Northern Theatre Command

Chinese state media outlet CCTV-7 has provided further details on the induction into service of new units of J-20 next generation stealth fighters. The J-20 is one of just two fifth generation fighters fielded at squadron level strength that is in production anywhere in the world, the other being the American F-35. The fighter entered service in the PLA in March 2017, and had a research and development cost of approximately $4.5 billion - less than 10% that of the F-35. The J-20 is currently considered one of the world’s leading air superiority fighters, and has seen its design improved significantly since entering service with the integration of new avionics, stealth coatings and engines. 

According to the recent report from CCTV, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has deployed a new brigade of J-20 jets, the enhanced J-20A variant, under the Northern Theatre Command. This makes it the first unit to operate a squadron comprised exclusively of the J-20A, and the fourth to deploy J-20s of any variant. It is also the first J-20 unit deployed under the Northern Theatre Command, with prior units deployed under the Central and Eastern commands as well as to a testing facility under the Western Command. J-20A fighters in the new brigade notably integrate new WS-10C engines, providing a much improved performance over older J-20 units. The aircraft initially using the Russian AL-31 from the Su-34 strike fighter, before moving on to the WS-10C which is considered one of the most capable fourth generation fighter engines in the world. Both engines are considered stopgaps until the WS-15 enters service, which is expected to be integrated onto future generations of J-20 fighters and will likely be the most powerful fighter engine in the world. A new variant of the J-20, the J-20B, entered production in 2020, and a twin seat variant likely to be designated J-20AS is also expected.