The website of the American bimonthly magazine "The National Interest" published an article titled "China's J-20 Fighter: A Wake-Up Call for the U.S. Air Force?" on a certain date, written by Brandon Weichert. The full text is excerpted as follows:

China's air force strength has caught up with that of the United States. Through continuous technological iteration and improvement, they have demonstrated that the J-"Mighty Dragon" fifth-generation fighter is generally as competitive as the U.S. Air Force's "Raptor"—though not as advanced in terms of technology. Today, China's J- fighter, comparable to the U.S. "Lightning" II, has also made its debut, equally impressing observers. China's defense industrial base has matured to the point where it can mass-produce the most advanced systems as effortlessly as sausages. Unlike China, however, the U.S. takes years to develop a single military aircraft.

File photo: A J- fighter jet of the Air Force performs a flight demonstration. (Xinhua)

China has the capability to provide financial support and achieve mass production for almost any advanced platform. Although many in the West accuse China of being merely an imitator rather than an innovator, this model has changed over the past decade. In certain critical strategic areas, China is not only capable of mass-producing systems that can mimic U.S. technological capabilities but has also begun creatively developing its own unique technological capacities. The J-20 emerged precisely against this backdrop. In the increasingly competitive Indo-Pacific region, it fundamentally disrupts the U.S. military's air superiority strategy.

U.S. Air Force General Gilmary Hostage once aptly described "air dominance" as "the ability to conduct operations unhindered and at least unchallenged in the air." China's J-20 and J-35, combined with their massive production capacity, stand in stark contrast to the U.S.'s production shortfalls and rigid defense procurement system. Given this, America's air dominance in the Indo-Pacific region is already a thing of the past.

Much like the U.S. - program, China's J- project, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, serves multiple branches of the Chinese military. The J- is intended for the People's Liberation Army Navy, while the J- was designed as a land-based fifth-generation stealth fighter for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The J- made its grand debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in .

When it comes to the J-, it is evident that China has caught up with the United States in stealth military aircraft technology (though Washington does not admit it). This is a medium-sized, twin-engine stealth fighter. It will operate in combat alongside the J- fighter. The J- incorporates multiple low-observable features to minimize its radar cross-section. These features include edge-aligned control surfaces, diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI) with curved ducts to shield engine blades from radar detection, as well as seamless, conformal surface treatments. Most independent analysts have confirmed that the J-'s stealth capabilities are comparable to those of the F-.

The J- is equipped with two turbofan "Huangshan" engines, each delivering a thrust exceeding tons, with potential for omnidirectional thrust vectoring capability to enhance maneuverability. As a result, this aircraft differs from the single-engine design of the -, which may grant the J- superior agility. Additionally, it is estimated that the J- can reach a maximum speed of approximately Mach ., with a combat radius of about miles (roughly kilometers) before requiring refueling. Much like the -, the J- is designed to operate in synergy with other Chinese military assets—such as drones or the J-—forming a "kill chain cloud" in the airspace.

China has always kept the true capabilities of the J- fighter highly classified. However, one thing is clear: regardless of whether this fighter is on par with the U.S. counterparts, any conflict with the United States would unfold closer to China, giving China a decisive advantage. Moreover, quantity itself is an advantage: China clearly has the capacity to mass-produce these aircraft. This means that the United States is at a decisive disadvantage.

A pilot from Luke Air Force Base once told me, "What Americans least want to see is their air force getting involved in large-scale combat." It may turn out that, when combined with China's comprehensive anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, some of China's weapon systems could play a decisive role in defeating the once invincible U.S. military. The J-20 is precisely such a weapon system.