China's first stealth fighter jet begins operations.

The J-20, China's first stealth fighter jet, has entered service, making it the second country after the United States to possess a stealth fighter.

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Reuters reported that China has commissioned the J-20 stealth fighter jet, a type of fighter expected to help the country narrow the military technology gap with the United States. In a report late on March 9, Chinese state television confirmed that the J-20 had entered service but provided no further details.

The J-20 made its maiden flight in 2011 and was publicly unveiled for the first time at the 2016 Zhuhai Airshow, held in November 2016 in the city of Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China.

Military analysts are wondering whether China's new fighter jet will meet radar stealth characteristics similar to the F-22 Raptor or the American Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35. In terms of appearance, the J-20 is quite similar to the American F-22.

Beijing is also developing a second stealth fighter program, the J-31. This fighter jet was publicly unveiled at the 2014 Zhuhai International Airshow, coinciding with former US President Barack Obama's visit to Asia.

A J-20 fighter jet performs a demonstration flight at the 2016 Zhuhai International Airshow. Photo: Xinhua News Agency

The J-31 is still under development, but China hopes it will compete with the F-35 on the international market, according to reports from Chinese state media.

The J-20 stealth fighter development program, also known as Project 718, began in the late 1990s. Chengdu Aircraft Corporation served as the main contractor. The J-20 features a stealth-based aerodynamic design.

The nose section of the aircraft is quite similar to the American F-22 stealth fighter. The J-20 is equipped with two Russian AL-31F or Chinese-made WS-10G jet engines. The mass-produced version may use domestically produced WS-15 engines.

The J-20 has a large weapons bay under its belly and two smaller bays on the sides that can carry medium- and short-range air-to-air missiles. The J-20 can reach a maximum speed of 2,100 km/h.

Military analysts believe that the J-20's engine does not meet the standards of a fifth-generation fighter jet and may affect the aircraft's stealth capabilities.

According to Zing