The Chengdu J-20 also called the Mighty Dragon is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, fifth-generation fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation of China for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It is built as an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability.

Manufacturer:
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group
Country:
China
Manufactured:
2009 to: Present
ICAO:
Price:
US$100 million (2018)
Avionics:
Engine:
2x Shenyang WS-15
Turbofan
Power:
40,000 pound-force
Max Cruise Speed:
1333 knots
2,469 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
Travel range:
3,200 Nautical Miles
5,926 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
66,000 feet
Rate of Climb:
60000 feet / minute
304.80metre / second
Take Off Distance:
Landing Distance:
Max Take Off Weight:
37,013 Kg
81,599 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
Max Payload:
12,700 Kg
27,998 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
4,166 gallon
15,770 litre
Baggage Volume:
Seats - Economy / General:
1 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
Cabin Width:
Cabin Length:
Exterior Length:
23 metre - 75.46 feet
Tail height:
5 metre - 16.40 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
2 metre - 6.56 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
15 metre - 49.21 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

Blog Mentions

Blog posts that mention the Chengdu J-20:

In the late 1990s, the development program of the Chengdu J-20 began. On December 22, 2010, the first prototype underwent high-speed taxiing tests outside the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute. After three months, the first J-20 conducted its first flight in Chengdu.

In 2014, a number of changes were done to J-20 prototypes such as new low-observable intake and stealth coating and restructured vertical stabilizers. New equipment and devices were also noted, including integrated targeting pods for precision-guided munition, and six additional passive infrared sensors that were all useful for multi-role missions. In December 2015, the low rate initial production (LRIP) type of the aircraft had been seen by a military observer. In November 2019, an aircraft coated in a yellow primer paint was seen while in a flight testing by defense observers at the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation manufacturing facility. It is fitted with a new version of WS-10 Taihang engines with serrated afterburner nozzles to improve stealth. On July 8, 2020, it was reported that a new version of the aircraft, designated as the J-20B was unveiled and entered mass production. The only modification made was its thrust vectoring control.

The Chengdu J-20 has a long and wide fuselage, with an exterior length of 23 meters, a height of 5 meters, and a diameter of 2 meters. It has a carved nose section and a frameless canopy. One specific design criterion for the aircraft is high instability which needs sustained pitch authority at a high angle of attack, where a typical tail-plane would lose efficacy because of stalling. On the contrary, a canard can deflect opposite to the angle of attack, preventing stall and sustaining control.

The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1,333 knots and a travel range of 3,200 nautical miles. It can fly up to 66,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 60,000 feet per minute. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 37,013 kg.

The Chengdu J-20 is one of the best Chinese fighter jets.

 

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All Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group Aircraft