{
  "id": "j-20",
  "name": "J-20",
  "aliases": [
    "FAGIN",
    "Mighty Dragon"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Stealth air superiority fighter",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": 2017,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The J-20 (FAGIN) Chinese Stealth Air Superiority Fighter is China’s first operational fifth‑generation stealth fighter, built for long‑range air superiority and central to the PLAAF’s high‑end combat power.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Chengdu Aerospace Corporation",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 1,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hardpoints",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "4× under-wing pylon capable of carrying drop tanks.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Internal weapons bays",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "PL-10 short range AAM; PL-12 Medium Range AAM; PL-15 BVR long range AAM; PL-21 Long Range AAM; LS-6 Precision-guided bomb",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 20.4,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 13.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Wing area",
      "section": "dims",
      "v": "78 m2",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 19391,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 32092,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Gross weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 37013,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2 × WS-10B or AL-31FM2 afterburning turbofan",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "140 or 145 kN (31,000 or 33,000 lbf) with afterburner",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 6000,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_mach",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Combat range",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2,000 km",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 20000,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "G limits",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "+9/-3",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust-to-weight",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "0.92 (1.12 with loaded weight and 50% fuel) with AL-31FM2 (estimated)",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Active Electronically Scanned Array",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Type 1475 (KLJ-5) active electronically scanned array",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Optical Targeting System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "EOTS-86 electro-optical targeting system (EOTS)",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Infrared Search and Track System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "EORD-31 infrared search and track",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Targeting and Communication",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Prototypes after application \"2011\" and production models feature revised nose section with an electro-optical/infra-red targeting system and an advanced communications suite on…",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Sensors note",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Official information on the type of radar that J-20s use have not yet been released publicly. Some analysts believed that J-20s used Type 1475 (KLJ-5) active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar…",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Stealth Properties",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Analysts noted that the J-20's nose and canopy use a similar stealth shaping design as the F-22, yielding similar signature performance in a mature design at the front, while the aircraft's side and…",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Heat Signature Reduction",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Chaff / flares",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun System",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "The J-20 is reported to lack an internal autocannon or rotary cannon, suggesting the aircraft is not intended to be used in short range dogfight engagements with other aircraft but engage them with from long standoff ranges with missiles such as the PL-15 and…",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "v": "PL-15; PL-21; LS-6",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "PL-15",
      "role": "Active Radar-Guided Very Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Active Radar-Guided Very Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile",
        "Guidance": "Active Radar-Guided",
        "Speed": "Mach 4",
        "Length": "4.0 m"
      },
      "range_km": 300
    },
    {
      "name": "PL-21",
      "role": "Active Radar-Guided Long Range Air-to-Air Missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Active Radar-Guided Long Range Air-to-Air Missile",
        "Guidance": "active radar with AESA",
        "Length": "5.5 m"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "LS-6",
      "role": "Precision-Guided Bomb",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Precision-Guided Bomb",
        "Guidance": "INS with GPS or laser guidance",
        "Warhead": "Various gravity bombs",
        "Speed": "Free-fall"
      }
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "J‑20",
      "text": "This is the original single‑seat production version that entered PLAAF service in 2017, forming the baseline “Mighty Dragon” design. It established the core airframe, stealth shaping, and internal weapons bay layout that the later variants build on.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "J‑20A",
      "text": "Chinese official media describe J‑20A as an upgraded variant of the original J‑20, still single‑seat but with improved airframe, avionics and performance.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "J-20S",
      "text": "The J-20S Chinese Stealth Air Superiority Fighter is a two-seat, tandem-cockpit version of the J-20 “Mighty Dragon” and is the world’s first twin-seat fifth-generation stealth fighter designed for combat rather than training.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-20"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "fighter",
  "image": {
    "file": "j-20.jpg",
    "thumb": "j-20-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "N509FZ",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J-20_at_CCAS2022_(20220827103424).jpg",
    "title": "File:J-20 at CCAS2022 (20220827103424).jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-05",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-06",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/j-20.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-j-20": {
      "title": "J-20 (FAGIN) Chinese Stealth Air Superiority Fighter",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/J-20_FAGIN_Chinese_Stealth_Air_Superiority_Fighter",
      "published": "2026-06-16",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}