This year’s Zhuhai Airshow turned out to be a highly anticipated event. It showcased the Jiutian strike drone, a new aircraft that could potentially become a next-generation fighter, as well as a concept for a hypersonic glider. Alongside these, after a long wait, China officially unveiled another aircraft—the world’s first two-seat stealth fighter, the J-20S. The aircraft first made headlines at the end of 2021 when it was spotted at the Chengdu factory, but the model presented at Zhuhai appeared to be more developed.
The presentation of the aircraft at Zhuhai was reported by China’s Ministry of Defense. It was noted that the J-20S is a highly capable fighter, designed to evade radar detection, with an extended flight range and a wide range of functional capabilities.
“The new fighter is capable of gaining air superiority, delivering precision strikes on ground and maritime targets, as well as conducting battlefield reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and tactical command and control operations,” says the manufacturer, adding that “in addition to conventional tasks, the J-20S can interact with drones in aerial combat, directing them to strike targets.”
The press release notes that the base model, the J-20, on which the J-20S is based, first took to the skies in January 2011 and was officially declassified in November 2016, also at the Zhuhai Airshow, shortly before entering service. The J-20S may follow a similar path, though currently, only prototype information is available.
歼-20S作为全球唯一一款双座隐身战斗机，它的出现更大的意义是中国在先进战机方面的发展，已经从追赶变成了创新！ pic.twitter.com/qFmKm4cN23
— DS北风（风哥） (@WenJian0922) November 10, 2024
Rumors about the development of the J-20S first surfaced in 2018, and in October 2021, it was seen for the first time during testing, with its maiden flight occurring the following month. It is reported that a total of four prototypes have been built, with the last two being spotted this year. From the start, experts speculated that the J-20S could be a versatile stealth fighter designed for ground attacks or electronic warfare missions. However, even now, after its official unveiling, little is known about the new aircraft.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the J-20 is the third stealth fighter in the world to enter service, following the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. However, these fifth-generation aircraft are available only in single-seat versions. The J-20S, therefore, will become the world’s first two-seat stealth fighter, offering the Chinese military several interesting capabilities.
歼-20四机编队飞行表演！ pic.twitter.com/rqtHWRybOP
— DS北风（风哥） (@WenJian0922) November 10, 2024
The increase in the number of displays and the flow of information from various sources conflicts with the cognitive and processing abilities of a single person. Therefore, an additional crew member will help prevent the pilot from becoming overwhelmed with tasks. This person could operate some of the onboard sensors, manage drones, or serve as a weapons systems officer.
The J-20S model was presented alongside the J-35A, with both displays accompanied by full-scale mock-ups of the PL-10E and PL-15E air-to-air missiles. The latter is particularly noteworthy in this context, as it has been optimized for internal storage in weapon bays.
The PL-15E ARH (Active Radar Homing) missile features folding rear fins and a more streamlined front fin. The rear fins are hinged at the mid-length of the missile and unfold after launch. This upgraded weapon increases the internal payload capacity of the J-20, allowing it to carry six missiles instead of the current four. According to some reports, the J-35 may also have the same payload capacity. The PL-15 was developed as China’s counterpart to the U.S. AIM-120D AMRAAM, equipped with a two-way data link and AESA radar. It is powered by a dual-pulse engine, providing a range of approximately 150 miles.
Source: theaviationist
