Although the J-20 can fly at long ranges and is stealthy, it's not a very effective strike fighter. The mission types that Chinese pilots can perform will determine what the J-20's final use is. It could be used to strike at sea, which would make it more useful than an air superiority fighter.
WS-10/Taihang engine
China's stealthy fighter jet, J-20, was created in Chengdu. The J-20 could eventually use a WS-10 turbofan engine. A WS-15 turbofan is also being developed in China, and could also be used by the J-20.
China's first turbofan engine with high thrust is the WS-10/Taihang. It is expected to be comparable to engines from the United States and Russia. Although the engine has been tested on J-10 aircraft by the Chinese government since 2011, it was not yet seen on a production plane until 2019.
Twin-seat version
China's Global Times recently wrote about the merits and benefits of the J-20 twin-seat model. This new type aircraft could do a variety missions, including electronic war, commanding wingman drones and bombing. The J-20's twin-seat configuration would allow for greater flexibility than the J-20, which is powered by Russian engines. It would be able to achieve air superiority with no need for ground-based flight crews.
China has yet to accept the single-seat J-20 into its service. However, a twin-seat version of this aircraft would be more efficient. While this aircraft will not have the advanced weapons and systems that other fighters have, it is still expected to be capable of performing a precision strike.
Potential electronic jamming capabilities
The J-20 stealth fighter is a brand new stealth aircraft that can be used to jam electronic systems. You can also equip it with an array EWPs (including the EA-18G), which can work both with stealth and with manned aircraft. It may also be equipped with a variety of anti-radiation missiles, such as Growler. In the future, the PLA may want to increase its electronic warfare capabilities and add more options to its existing capabilities.
The J-20 is slated to carry a variety of advanced electronic systems, including an active electronically scanned array (AESA), a chin-mounted infrared/electro-optic search and track sensor, and an advanced passive electro-optical detection system. These systems should provide 360-degree spherical coverage around the aircraft, and are expected to match those of the F-35. A sophisticated communications suite is expected to be fitted to the J-20. It will enable it, for example, datalink with existing or developing friendly platforms.
Cost
The fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter jet is a crucial part of China’s efforts to modernize military operations. Its design focuses on stealth and manoeuvrability and many people have compared it to the Lockheed Martin F-35. The technology is still in its early stages and has not yet been used on a large scale.
Although the J-20 is an expensive fighter, more advanced fighter jets are becoming increasingly popular. It is estimated that the cost of mass-production of this aircraft will run between 120 and 150 million U.S. dollars, and that is the bare-metal cost without flight and long-term maintenance costs. China's J-20 could change the geopolitical balance of Asia in the future.