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| China's Mighty Dragon J-20 Stealth Fighter Shows Its Newest Maneuverability |
Beijing - China's J-20 stealth fighter jet looks set to demonstrate unprecedented maneuverability. New footage has been released of China's J-20 fifth-generation fighter. It has been shown that this aircraft performs complex and strenuous low-speed maneuvers.
Quoted from Military Watch Magazine, this has led to speculation that this aircraft may have started integrating thrust vector engines. Many maneuvers are visible, including the turns made during the vertical ascent. This also includes the ability to glide while lifting the nose of the aircraft, which is thought to be possible only with thrust vectors.
The J-20 is one of only two fifth-generation fighters in the world with a single engine that is lighter than the F-35. The first meeting of the two was confirmed in March 2022, where US officials highlighted that the Chinese plane made a strong impression.
While its stealth capabilities provide the most significant advantage at longer ranges, the J-20 is well optimized for visual range combat. This can be seen from the presence of the PL-10 short-range air-to-air missile which is considered one of the most capable in the world. It is also capable of striking targets at extreme distances.
The fighter's distributed aperture system, a feature only the F-35 has, also allows pilots to see through their cockpit using their helmets for better situational awareness. The thrust vector engine, which is likely responsible for the extreme maneuverability of the J-20, will complement this advantage.
In contrast, the F-35 does not have a thrust vectoring engine and is considered one of the world's least maneuverable fighters. However, it is still well optimized to go beyond visual range with capabilities comparable to advanced avionics and sensors to the J-20.