China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Fleet Performs Grand ‘Elephant Walk’

Summary and Key Points: China’s official military news site recently showcased photos of the Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” in an “elephant walk” formation, a display often used to show force.

-China’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-20, was built in 1990 as part of Beijing’s J-XX program and entered service in 2017.

It has sophisticated stealth capabilities and a canard-delta configuration; However, it is said that stolen US technology was used in its creation. China is ramping up J-20 production despite controversy to counter US military posture in the Indo-Pacific.

China’s J-20 Mighty Dragon Stealth Fighter Showcases Power in ‘Elephant Walk

On Friday, the official English-language news website of China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), published a set of images taken a few months ago of the Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” (NATO reporting name “Fagin”). At least six of the twin-engine, all-weather stealth fighters lined up on the runway in one picture.

“J-20 stealth fighters attached to the Aviation Brigade of the PLA Air Force participate in a close formation taxi known as the ‘Elephant Walk’ on the runway before takeoff during a flight training exercise in early February 2024,” the description said.

The phrase “elephant walk,” which refers to the taxiing of many aircraft before takeoff, has been used more frequently by the US Air Force in recent years. Although close formations on the ground are frequently performed as a show of strength, they can result in minimal interval takeoffs. This year’s J-20 elephant trek was probably organized for the same purpose.

Another photo shared featured the ground crew performing inspections  while another revealed ground crews working at night to examine the J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet before a flight training exercise.

Origins of the J-20

Beijing’s J-XX program of the 1990s, which aimed to develop an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability, produced the Chengdu J-20. It was the world’s third operational “fifth-generation” fighter, behind the US Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) formally acquired and began operating the vehicle known as the Mighty Dragon in 2017. It is a sleek, contemporary aircraft noted for its large canted twin tail, composite fuselage with low radar cross-section. , and the canard-delta layout. It has two large internal armament bays that can hold long-range and air-to-air missiles. The two compact sidebays on the J-20 are also capable of holding short-range air-to-air missiles.

Built Using Stolen U.S. Tech?

The J-20 was a “great leap forward” for Chinese aerospace, however, with Beijing pointing out that it may have stolen from other countries in addition to using its own domestic research and development (R&D) resources to produce a weapon of such capability. .

Even Russia, China’s closest ally, has expressed displeasure at Beijing’s apparent “borrowing” of technological advances in recent years as Beijing builds more sophisticated military weapons.

Still, it’s hard to look at the J-20 and see the impact of the F-22 Raptor. It is true that many of the aircraft are built using known components of existing models, but Beijing is accused of stealing the F-22’s technology and designs rather than merely observing them.

More Mighty Dragons Being Hatched

Beijing has great confidence in its first fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-20, despite its humble beginnings, and has seen to it that production is ramped up significantly to counter the deployment of F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs. by the US Air Force in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing is reminding the rest of the world of this truth through its current imagery.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Author Peter Suciu lives in Michigan. During his twenty-year journalism career, he has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites, publishing more than 3,200 items. Typical topics of his interest include foreign affairs, cyber security, history of weapons, military equipment and politics. Additionally, Peter writes as a contributing writer for Clearance Jobs and Forbes.

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