China Rules Out Selling its J-20 Fifth Generation Jet on Global Market

© REUTERS / China DailyChina unveils its J-20 stealth fighter on an air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, November 1, 2016.
China unveils its J-20 stealth fighter on an air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, November 1, 2016. - Sputnik International
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China is not considering putting its newest J-20 fifth-generation jet fighter on the international market, Air Force Commander General Ma Xiaotian told local television.

On Tuesday, China unveiled two Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters at the Airshow China-2016 in Zhuhai. The aircraft was developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. The J-20 conducted its first test flight in early 2011.

"We are not considering putting [the J-20] on the global market," Ma was quoted as saying by South China Morning Post.

At the same time, the commander said it was satisfied by the demonstration flight at the Zhuhai airshow.

China unveils its J-20 stealth fighter during an air show in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, November 1, 2016 - Sputnik International
Separated At Birth? China's J-20 Stealth Jet Looks Just Like MiG Prototype
"Of course I’m satisfied. It’s a very good thing that our J-20 made an appearance here. We’re speeding up its development," he added.

While the detailed specifications of the new jet have been kept secret, to all appearances the jets have been designed to match the stealth capabilities of fifth-generation fighter aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and Russia's Sukhoi PAK FA.

The deputy editor of Russian military magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Dmitry Drozdenko told Sputnik that J-20 bears similarities to an experimental prototype for a fifth-generation fighter jet produced by Russia's MiG aircraft corporation, which was finally displayed last year.

"In my opinion, the machine is based on the Russian MiG 1.44. That plane was created to compete with the PAK FA at the preliminary design stage, and made its maiden flight in 2000. The Chinese plane is very similar. Although it hasn't been announced officially, the J-20 uses our AL-31F engine, developed by Salut, which the Chinese bought for half a billion dollars," he told Sputnik.

In addition to the J-20, China is also developing another fifth-generation jet fighter, the Shenyang J-31, but with a plan to attract foreign buyers.

Earlier, Russian Air Force official Sergei Kornev told RIA Novosti that the J-31 will be equipped with the Russian-made RD-93 engine. The J-31 conducted its maiden flight on October 31, 2012. Currently, the aircraft is still in development.

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