China outlines J-20 stealth fighter’s role in intercepting foreign warplanes by releasing footage that may show rare encounter with F-35

State broadcaster airs footage of the country’s most advanced warplanes carrying out operations over the East China Sea
The planes are the only Chinese fighters capable of matching advanced jets such as the F-35s flown by the US and Japan

China’s military

Liu Zhen

Published: 8:44pm, 18 Jan 2023

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Chinese most advanced stealth fighter J-20 is playing a leading role in intercepting planes over the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait, according to state media reports.

Military observers believe the fifth generation warplanes are the best equipped to confront foreign stealth fighters such as the F-35s of the United States or Japan.

On Monday state broadcaster CCTV aired a video of a J-20 squadron, saying it had done an “excellent job on regular patrols and controlling the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone” (ADIZ).

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Chinese fighter jet almost collides with US military plane over South China Sea

Stealth fighters are usually not the first choice for “simple” tasks like interception and identification of foreign warplanes in the ADIZ because of their high operational costs and need to keep their radar evasion parameters secret, according to Macau-based military commentator Antony Wong Dong.

But when the incoming aircraft appears to be a stealth fighter with super cruise, super manoeuvrability and advanced avionics, only a peer stealth fighter is able to track and intercept.

“It sounds reasonable that J-20s were sent to intercept and identify when the US or Japanese stealth fighters approach,” he said.

Last March, US Pacific Air Forces Commander Kenneth Wilsbach said there had been “a close encounter” between a J-20 and F-35 over the East China Sea. It was the first known confrontation between two stealth fighters.

Chinese fighter jet flies within metres of US military plane in South China Sea

In August, the People’s Liberation Army confirmed its J-20s had been used to intercept and identify foreign planes.

The CCTV programme interviewed the J-20 pilots from the Eastern Theatre Command’s Wang Hai Squadron about their encounters with other air forces, with squadron commander Yang Juncheng telling the broadcaster: “No matter what happens in the air, even if it means sacrifice, we will never step back from our positions.”

The broadcast showed Yang and another pilot from the squadron, Wei Xin, being scrambled to intercept two incoming aircraft.

It showed footage of Wei telling the targets in English: “This is China Air Force. You have entered the Chinese ADIZ. Report your nationality ID and the purpose of flight.”

Squadron commander Yang Juncheng pictured during the state television programme. Photo: CCTV

It did not identify the target aircraft, but said the two pilots had successfully completed the mission.

There have been occasional highly dangerous incidents between the Chinese and foreign air forces.

The best-known incident was in 2001, in which a J-8 fighter collided with an US Navy spy plane over the South China Sea, resulting in the death of the Chinese pilot.

There have been further encounters with US and Japanese planes since China announced its air defence zone in the East China Sea in 2013.

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In May 2017 the US accused two Chinese Su-30 pilots of “unprofessional” behaviour after they carried out manoeuvres within 45 metres of a WC-135 reconnaissance plane, with one of the fighters flying directly overhead in an upside down position.

The J-20, the first non-US stealth fighter, first entered service in 2017. The Wang Hai Squadron, named after a Korean war ace, is the first PLA Air Force unit fully equipped with the planes.