China's most advanced fighter jet, J-20, has reportedly entered stealth mode. Rumors claimed that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has removed the aircraft's Lunenburg lens.
A pair of F35-B Lightning stealth jets, which will take over capabilities from Tornado force, fly off the wing of an RAF Voyager during air to air refueling, as Tornado GR4's take part in farewell fly-past over Britain on February 19, 2019 in Oxford, England. Nicknamed the "Tonka" by aviation enthusiasts, the Tornado GR4 will took part in a series of flypasts to commemorate the aircraft's contribution to defending the UK as it is retired from service.
According to Global Times' latest report, the advanced combat airplane has entered the next level of combat readiness. However, China hasn't confirmed yet if its J-20 will soon be used in possible real air combat.
The info was released after the jet's Lunenburg lens was removed, which is a small device that most fighter jets have so that military agencies could track it on purpose. This means that this lens intentionally exposes a stealth fighter jet to other people during air activities, such as non-combat flights or training.
China's J-20 enters next combat readiness level
Sun Teng, a Chinese fighter jet pilot, said that the country's Air Force pilots will have the spirit of "aerial bayonet" fighting ability. They will be trained for combat so that they can protect China's national sovereignty and dignity.
J-10 fighter jets of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force Ba Yi aerobatics team perform an aerial display during the Singapore Airshow media preview on February 9, 2020 in Singapore.
On the other hand, the country's most advanced stealth fighter was seen making air activities. Some CCTV videos also revealed that the J-20s doing aerial maneuvers no longer have their Lunenberg lenses.
Aside from the removal of the small tracker, some videos also leaked that there are other changes in the fighter jet's side missile bay, which is the part of the aircraft that carries missiles and other ammunition.
Although some analysts claimed that the removal of the radar reflector from the jet's belly could mean upcoming combat missions, it is still highly advised to wait for China's actual announcement.
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J-20 vs. US F-22
China's J-20 is the counterpart of the United States' F-22. Military Watch Magazine claims that they both have the same high-performance stealth designs.
Aside from this, both of the planes can also maneuver well in difficult air situations. However, J-20 has a larger and bulkier body compared to F-22.
This could be a great deal during actual air combats since they can easily be targeted by other fighter jets.
When it comes to missiles, J-20 has a small advantage since it uses the latest PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles. On the other hand, F-22 still uses AIM-120D, which is an old one that was introduced way back in 1991.
Furthermore, J-20 also has distributed aperture system, which improves its situational awareness.
Although China's jet seems to have the upper hand, the U.S. is still improving its F-22 fighter jets.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon
