China Unveils Stealth Fighter Jet 'J-20' with Indigenous Engine... "Operational Capability Improvement Expected"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] China has publicly unveiled the stealth fighter J-20 equipped with a domestically produced engine for the first time. This is interpreted as a demonstration of self-production of the J-20's engine, which had previously relied on Russia, and a signal of plans for mass production in the future.

According to the Global Times on the 29th, at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as the Zhuhai Airshow, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, the J-20 fighter equipped with a domestic engine performed at the airshow. The J-20 fighter flew alongside the J-10, the main aircraft of the Chinese Air Force, which performed aerobatics, showcasing its capabilities.

Colonel Li Zhiguan, who led the opening performance, stated at a press conference, "This is the first time the J-20 fighter equipped with a domestically produced engine has performed at an airshow in front of the public," emphasizing, "Through aerobatics, we demonstrated how excellent the J-20's performance is in low-altitude and high-speed flight."

Chinese military experts also agreed that the domestically produced engine installation would contribute to enhancing combat power. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, said, "Due to weather conditions, the J-20's capabilities could not be fully demonstrated," but evaluated that "the installation of the domestic engine will greatly contribute not only to the mass production of the J-20 but also to performance improvement."

The J-20 is China's latest stealth fighter developed to counter U.S. stealth fighters such as the F-22 and F-35. Previously, it had been equipped with imported Russian AL-31F engines. The newly produced domestic engine was installed on newly manufactured J-20 fighters, and it is known that engines on already produced fighters will not be replaced.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.