by Kris Osborn, Warrior The U.S. Navy and Air Force now operate hundreds of F-35s, and they continue to prove combat worthy and exceedingly deployable. Not only can U.S. Navy carriers travel with as many as 70 F-35Cs if needed, but its amphibious assault ships can themselves deploy with up to 20 F-35Bs. The U.S. Air Force now operates hundreds of F-35As and they are increasingly forward deployed at strategic allied locations throughout the world. The allied equation [https://news.usni.org/2026/01/14/china-reveals-new-j-20-fifth-gen-fighter-variant-can-strike-maritime-targets] with the F-35 is equally relevant, as it amounts to nothing short of an F-35 “explosion” across the European continent. Not only did Japan make a huge, multi-billion dollar F-35 buy in recent years, but Lockheed developers estimate there to be as many as 600 F-35s on the European continent by 2030. In terms of pure “mass,” this is an extremely substantial number, particularly if the F-35 is able to sustain a tactical air combat advantage in terms of networking, sensing and weaponry. As for the J-20, estimates can vary, yet large numbers of public media reports estimate China’s J-20 fleet as roughly 300 and growing fast. 5th-Generation “Mass” There is little question [https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346972/j-20-fighter-jet-designer-scrubbed-chinese-academy-sciences-website] that any kind of great-power confrontation would require “mass” when it comes to 5th-generation aircraft, particularly given the expanse of the Pacific or sheer size of Russia and Eastern Europe. Large, dispersed, yet networked formations of F-35s would be needed to “find” and “neutralize” advanced air defenses across a wide geographical envelope. This strategic reality seems well-recognized by China, as the People’s Liberation Army - Air Force has been “massively” increasing production of its 5th-generation stealth J-20 Mighty Dragon, a still somewhat mysterious aircraft highly praised by Chinese engineers. The platform has undergone a wide range of upgrades and adaptations in recent years, as the PLA AF not only replaced Russian engines with its own, domestically-built [https://en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/measuring-135m-in-wingspan-and-204m-in-length-the-chengdu-j-20-chinas-fifth-generation-stealth-fighter-combines-high-speed-advanced-technolo-rmrm97/] WS-15 engine but also appears to have accelerated production and delivery of the aircraft. The exact extent to which the J-20 can rival an F-35 may remain as somewhat of an open question, as it likely depends upon lesser-known variables such as the speed, range and complexity of J-20 sensing and computing. The J-20’s external configuration does appear stealthy, and the aircraft has two smaller, forward positioned canard for added lift and stability, yet the aircraft is not as fast as a U.S. F-22. With speeds listed at Mach 2.0, the J-20 would appear to be faster than an F-35’s Mach 1.6 speed, yet slower than an F-22 at Mach 2.25. [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinas-fighter-jet-output-surges-j-20-and-j-16-production-soars/vi-AA1GcYgJ] J-20 AESA Radar As a slightly larger aircraft, the J-20 can also operate in a bomb-truck type of capacity. The J-20 does have a large nose-radome, something which researchers have suggested houses larger numbers of long-range transmit/receive [https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/03/19/china-increases-stealth-fighter-production-with-j-20-and-j-35-expansion/] (T/R) nodules. There is a well known direct correlation between the “range” of an AESA Radar and the sheer number of its T/R modules. Should greater numbers of T/R modules be successfully and efficiently packaged into the J-20s AESA Radar, the aircraft could operate with a longer “detection” range when compared with an F-35. This would suggest that the PLA may have envisioned its J-20 as a “counter-interventionist” long-range detection platform able to form a defensive perimeter around the Chinese coastline. Accomplishing this, however, would require a large number of J-20 aircraft, and they would arguably [https://simpleflying.com/how-f-22-raptor-stacks-up-chengdu-j-20-2026/] need to rival the F-35 in terms of sheer numbers and sensor-detection targeting range. Even if a J-20 could conceivably “detect” or “see” an F-35, that does not mean it can “hit” an F-35 at stand-off ranges, given the range, targeting technology and sensor fidelity built into the F-35. Also, should the J-20 be unable to compete with a US F-35 when it comes to sensor range, targeting precision and multi-role air dominance, then having larger numbers of the aircraft might not necessarily make as much of a difference. Kris Osborn is President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
