![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/J-20.jpg.jpg\")
This is an important consideration for stealthy, low-observable designs in combat situations, as they seek to reduce their probability of detection when approaching an adversary. Bronk said the thrust vectoring nozzle on the J-10B test bed \u201cappears shaped to better minimize radar cross-section than the current (Russian) AL-31 engines on the J-20.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, at the air show, Yang Wei, the chief engineer of the J-20 program, cryptically responded with a cheeky \u201chow do you know we haven\u2019t already done so?\u201d when asked by a local reporter if the J-20 will be similarly fitted with WS-10 engines incorporating thrust vectoring control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
J-20 prototype aircraft assigned to the Chengdu Aircraft Company have already flown with WS-10 engines, and it\u2019s rumored the J-20 has flown while fitted with thrust-vectoring variants of the WS-10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, high-resolution photos taken at Zhuhai reveal the low-rate initial production models of the J-20 operated by China\u2019s air force are showing signs of what Bronk calls \u201crapid quality improvement.\u201d He noted that these aircraft exhibit improvement \u201con surface quality and mold-line consistency compared to previous prototypes, showing China continues to make progress in closing the gap with U.S. low-observable designs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nonetheless, he told Defense News, China still has a fair way to go before it can approach the levels of signature reduction seen in fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35. He contributed this to the continued presence of external attachments and the less-than-ideal way the electro-optical targeting system of the J-20 and its engine nozzles are mounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The J-20 was not on static display at this year\u2019s Zhuhai air show, but up to four aircraft supported the show, operating from a nearby airbase and flying during daily demonstrations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
China still has a fair way to go before it can approach the levels of signature reduction seen in fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":77392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":7,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"4":{"categories":["news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters","middle-column","home"],"primary_category":"news"}}},"categories":[7,45,160,29,162,11,91,36],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3419],"class_list":["post-35462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air","category-asia-pacific","category-daily-news-roundup","category-digital-show-dailies","category-digital-show-daily","category-global","category-japan-aerospace","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"IE3ZWDFIW5EWBMXVGJJFEGYHRI","arc_canonical_url":"\/air\/2018\/11\/07\/china-showcases-progress-on-stealth-fighter-jet-at-zhuhai-airshow\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n