J-20 Fighters: Beijing under the Protection of the “Phantom”

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The Chinese Air Force is undergoing a strategic transformation with the replacement of traditional J-11B fighters by the advanced stealth J-20A fighters.

This transition reflects the ambition of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to enhance its aerial capabilities, achieve technological dominance in air combat, and continuously modernize its air fleet, according to the defense-focused magazine Military Watch.

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Recent footage from the Chinese Air Force confirms that the 19th Air Brigade has begun the long-anticipated process of replacing its J-11B fighters with the advanced J-20A, marking a major leap in combat capabilities.

This brigade is based at Zhangjiakou Air Base in Hebei province, one of the closest airbases to Beijing.

This transition follows the previous deployment of J-20 fighters in the same region, where the 172nd Air Brigade at Cangzhou Air Training Base switched to J-20 fighters in February 2018.

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The J-20 is being produced at an accelerated rate, estimated between 100 and 120 aircraft per year, making it the most widely produced fighter by a single air force in the world today.

These aircraft replace the J-11B, both belonging to the category of twin-engine heavy fighters designed for advanced long-range combat, featuring large radars, high maneuverability, and a structure optimized for air superiority.

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The Transition from J-11 to J-20

The 19th Air Brigade adopted the J-11B between 2015 and 2016, strategically important due to its proximity to Beijing and surrounding industrial zones.

This transition has also occurred in other brigades, such as the 1st Air Brigade in Anshan and the 111th Air Brigade in Dazhou.

By 2022, the J-20 replaced the J-11B as the escort fighter for the repatriation of Chinese soldiers’ remains from South Korea, highlighting its symbolic and strategic importance.

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Looking Ahead: The Sixth Generation is Coming

The J-11B served as a critical transition phase in China’s fighter development, paving the way for a new generation of aircraft such as the J-16 and J-15B, both of which remain in production. However, comparing the J-11B with its successor, the J-20, reveals a fundamental difference.

While the J-11B was one of several fourth-generation fighters introduced into Chinese service simultaneously, the J-20 is the only fighter of its generation being mass-produced for China’s air force.

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However, the J-20‘s future is now in question. Reports from December 2024 confirm that China has successfully tested two prototypes of sixth-generation fighters.

It is expected that one of these aircraft will replace the J-20 by 2030, just as the J-20 replaced the J-11B before it.

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