J-20: A Chinese Air Force pilot explains what it’s like to fly a stealth fighter

Summary and Key Points: Chinese pilot Chen Liu, experienced in flying various fighter jets, shared insights on operating the fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon in a state-run media interview.

-Chain emphasized the J-20’s superior data-processing and sophisticated avionics, contrasting it with the J-10. Although he found the J-20’s weapon system difficult, he gave the aircraft high marks. Currently, China produces one J-20 per month, of which about 150 are in service.

-The public interview expresses support for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) J-20 program and recommends that the United States prepare for any future J-20-related confrontations.

China’s J-20 Pilot Shares Insights on Flying the Mighty Dragon

About two years ago, a Chinese pilot with at least three different fighter types revealed that he was using the knowledge he gained from flying the J-10 to help him pilot the secret Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon, a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

In a recent interview, Chen Liu, who appears to be one of China’s top pilots based on his performance on other aircraft, told state media that the J-20’s powerful weapons can sometimes make it difficult to fly.

Nevertheless, it has some criticisms and Mighty Dragon has an overall good assessment. The J-20, regarded as Beijing’s best fighter, is China’s rival to the United States’ F-35 or F-22.

China Is Going Public With J-20 Flight

EurAsian Times translated Chen’s interview from CCTV that was uploaded to YouTube a few years ago. He said the J-20’s advanced avionics made it easier to fly than the J-10 aircraft, except for handling weapons. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) developed the fourth generation of J-10 fighters, which originated in 1988. It was operational in 2004. The J-10 is known as the “backbone” of the PLAAF.

J-20 Pilots Must Rapidly Deal with Incoming Data

The J-20, according to Chen, is “capable of collecting and processing massive amounts of data – something similar to the F-35 – which is then fed to the pilot.” He said that while pilots of the new warplane needed to absorb information quickly, the J-10’s single-seat layout prepared it well for the J-20’s single-seat.

No Flight Problems Except for Challenging Operations of Weapons

Chen claimed that he had “no problem when he first started flying the J-20,” although he admitted that the aircraft’s complex weapons system made learning challenging. according to the National Interest. the J-20’s armament is believed to consist of “four to six long-range missiles or bombs” and are housed in the internal weapons bay. “Observers speculate that the J-20 will serve as either a long-range supersonic strike plane, or a hit-and-run interceptor used to slip past fighter screens and take out vulnerable supporting tankers and AWACS aircraft,” the defense publication continues, describing . The multi-mission nature of the J-20.

They’re Making Them Fast

It is encouraging for China if the additional PLAAF pilots are flying the J-20 relatively successfully. Up to 150 J-20s may be in service across the country and production lines are still operational. One J-20 fighter can be sent to the PLAAF every month; The capabilities of these aircraft are similar to the fifth-generation American F-35 and F-22 fighter jets. This is the result of China possibly stealing American design blueprints.

The J-20 can speed along at almost MACH 2, and it has a ceiling of around 60,000 feet with a range of 1,200 to 2,000 miles (we note that range estimates are varied based on sourcing).

Time to Deal with the Reality of the J-20

It is interesting that the PLAAF is open to allowing a pilot on the J-20 to be interviewed—a topic on which China is often silent—in a major media outlet. This indicates that the PLAAF is pleased to see that the US and its allies in East Asia are concerned about the J-20 capability and have confidence in the program.

The US military should stop whining about looted designs. Done done. So the Pentagon needs to prepare for the possibility that the F-22 or F-35 will engage in dogfighting with the J-20 in a future war with China. There are already mighty one and more similar dragons in the works.

About the Author

Author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is. An expert in emerging threats, he was an infantry officer in the United States Army. On Twitter, you can follow him @BMEastwood. He holds a doctorate in Political Science and Foreign Policy/International Relations.

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