Guangdong: Flexing its military muscle, China showcased its top secret J20 fighter (Black Eagle) jet at Zhuhai air show at Guangdong on Tuesday, media reports said.
The hush-hush project, which is seen as a force-multiplier for China, has been unveiled at a time when the country is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and natural oil and gas reserves.
Two J-20 fighter jets took to the skies and swept over dignitaries and hundreds of visitors gathered at the air show's opening ceremony in a 60-second flypast, Xinhua reported.
Photo courtesy: Reuters
The Chengdu-manufactured air superiority fighter is expected to reach operational status in 2018 with the Chinese Air Force, reports said.
China’s attempt to build the state-of-the-art aircraft is seen as an attempt to overtake the US as the world's top aviation market in the next 10-20 years.
Currently, US operates Lockheed Martin-manufactured F-22 Raptor which is termed as the world’s first 5th generation air superiority fighter jet.
The F-22 Raptor is among only a few aircraft that can supercruise, or sustain supersonic flight without using fuel-inefficient afterburners.
Photo courtesy: Reuters
Though, China’s J-20 appears to have a stealth airframe and it looks similar to both the Raptor and its Lockheed stable-mate, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
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