Fifth-generation Chinese stealth fighter aircraft J-20 conducts new test flight in southwest of China 2211111.

The Chengdu J-20 is a fifth-generation of twin-engine stealth fighter aicraft designed and manufactured by the Chengdu Aicrfat Industry. The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011.

China thus became the third nation in the world to "develop and test-fly a full-size stealth combat aircraft demonstrator", after the United States and Russia.

The Guardian reported that experts, on the one hand, expressed "surprise" at the speed with which the aircraft was developed, but on the other hand "said the country's military prowess was still relatively backward and way behind that of the US" and that its military interests were limited to its region.

The J-20 is a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft which appears to be somewhat larger and heavier than the comparable Sukhoi T-50 and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

The J-20 has a large belly weapon bay for short/long-range air-to-air missiles (AAM) (PL-10, PL-12C/D & PL-21) and two smaller lateral weapon bays behind the air inlets for short-range AAMs (PL-10).