The Chinese J-20 Vs. US Air Force F-22

There may be more unknown details of relevance to the Chinese J-20 5th-generation stealth fighter than there are known specifics, yet the People’s Liberation Army has been writing about its J-20 in several respects for many years now, so there are a handful of key pertinent observations to be made regarding the extent of the threat it may pose.

Chinese J-20 Vs. US Air Force F-22

Upon initial glance, the stealthy looking airframe has been widely seen by US Congressional reports and Pentagon essays as what could be called a “transparent” rip-off of US 5th-gen stealth technology. This possibility, and the visible similarities in stealth configuration between the J-20 and F-35 and F-22 have been cited in several Pentagon reports, all as part of a long-standing and publicly documented concern about Chinese theft of US military technology.

The J-20 does look stealthy, as it has a standard blended-wing-body stealth shape, rounded fuselage, few if any protruding structures likely to generate a return radar signature and what appears to be an internal weapons bay devoid of external pylons. While many have drawn comparisons between the J-20 and F-35, the J-20s apparent dual-engine configuration looks a bit F-22-like. Also, the J-20s dual wing configuration looks a bit different than existing F-22 or F-35 designs, as its dual-wing fuselage is more elongated and larger than US 5th-gen aircraft. 

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While available specs published by Aerocorner do say the J-20 is nearly five meters longer than the F-22, the largest differences appear to be maximum take-off payload and fuel capacity. Aerocorner lists the length of the J-20 at 23 meters, compared to 18.9 meters for the F-22. Range is also dramatically different as well, as additional size and fuel-carrying capacity results in a massive range disparity; Aerocorner reports that the J-20 flies with a 4,166 gallon fuel tank capacity compared with 2,400 for the F-22.

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This disparity results in a massive range difference, as the J-20 is listed as having a range nearly 3,000 km farther than the F-22. The spec sheet says the J-20 can travel to ranges of 5,926km, a range which puts Taiwan well within reach of mainland China, whereas the F-22 is slated as having a range of 2,963km. However, with two non-stealthy external fuel tank, an F-22 can travel more than 1,864 miles, yet a plane with this configuration will be much less capable and fast and an air-to-air fighter. By comparison, the maximum range of a J-20 is listed at 1,100, meaning it too might fly much farther with additional fuel tanks which compromise dogfighting ability and speed.