China continues to stalk stealth for its military air operations, viewing it as a "core capability," the Pentagon says.
“The Plaaf (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) has observed foreign military employment of stealth aircraft and views this technology as a core capability in its transformation from a predominantly territorial air force to one capable of conducting both offensive and defensive operations,” the Pentagon notes in its annual report on the Chinese military released earlier this month. “Plaaf leaders believe stealth aircraft provide an offensive operational advantage that denies an adversary the time to mobilize and to conduct defensive operations. In 2015, China began flight testing its fifth and sixth J-20 stealth fighter prototypes.”
Within two years of the J-20’s first flight in January 2011, the Pentagon points out, China tested a second next-generation fighter prototype. “The prototype, referred to as the FC-31 (and unofficially as the J-31), is similar in size to a U.S. F-35 fighter and appears to incorporate design characteristics similar to the J-20,” the Pentagon says.
In addition to manned fighter aircraft, the Plaaf also views stealth technology as integral to unmanned aircraft, specifically those with an air-to-ground role, as this technology would improve that system’s ability to penetrate heavily protected targets, the Pentagon reports.
“The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is actively marketing the FC-31 as an export fifth-generation multirole fighter to compete with the F-35 for foreign sales,” the Pentagon says. “AVIC is reportedly in negotiations with the Plaaf to sell the FC-31 for domestic use.”
China, the Pentagon says, “is the only country other than the United States to have two concurrent stealth fighter programs. China seeks to develop these advanced aircraft to improve its regional power projection capabilities and to strengthen its ability to strike regional airbases and facilities.”