PUBLISHED on August 9, 2025, 08:28 AM EDT – Key Points and Summary – A speculative comparison pits the UK’s sixth-generation Tempest fighter against China’s operational fifth-generation J-20.
-The Tempest, a joint project with Italy and Japan, is being designed for deep-penetration missions with a massive payload and long range, aiming to enter service by 2035.
J-20 Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-The J-20, likely developed using stolen U.S. technology, is a proven platform that is already in service in large numbers.
-While the Tempest will theoretically be a more advanced, sixth-generation aircraft, the key challenge: the J-20 exists now, while the Tempest is still in development.
Is The New UK Tempest A Match For China’s J-20?
The UK Tempest is a joint sixth-generation stealth fighter project between the UK, Italy, and Japan, and is expected to come into service for the UK’s Royal Air Force by 2035 under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), The Telegraph noted.
The Tempest looks remarkably like the US F-35, save for a few minor differences. The plan is to have the aircraft flying by 2027 and operational by 2035. Two-thirds of the aircraft’s structural weight is now in manufacturing, including the wings and tails.
Matt Oliver suggested that Putin should “fear” Britain’s next fighter jet, citing early signs that the aircraft is being “designed for missions deep into enemy territory.”
Equipped with next-generation stealth and extended-range fuel tanks, the Tempest is being designed for deep-penetration missions far into hostile territory. That could mean Russia or China.
Updated New Design For The Tempest:
BAE Systems, the lead manufacturer of the United Kingdom’s sixth-generation fighter aircraft Tempest, has presented a redesigned new model of a possible configuration of the proposed aircraft.
The new model was revealed at the Farnborough International Airshow, taking place in southern England in late July. BAE replaced the ‘lambda’ wing design—named for its resemblance to the Greek letter “λ,” with its forward-swept leading edge and backward-swept trailing edge.
That was initially intended to assist with the jet’s stealth, but has been replaced with what TWZ describes as a “cropped delta with an arrow-like trailing edge.” However, BAE Systems might not be done tinkering with the design.
Jonny Moreton, a retired RAF air commodore, currently employed by BAE Systems, was showing off the mockup at a warehouse and said, “This won’t be the final shape and size, but, in terms of scale, it’s about the same. Whatever GCAP as a core platform is going to be … she is going to be big.”
China’s First Stealth Fighter, The J-20:
China’s J-20 stealth fighter was unveiled in 2011, but in 2007, Chinese hackers broke into the secret files of the US Joint Strike Fighter project and stole data related to the F-35 stealth fighter.
Just four years later, Beijing unveiled its J-20, which features several design breakthroughs similar to those found on the F-35. Those same experts believe this sudden technological leap could not have happened without data that had been hacked from the US.
China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter likely incorporates stolen technology from at least three sources: Russia’s MiG 1.44, America’s F-22 Raptor, and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
While its overall design closely mirrors Russia’s abandoned MiG-1.44, critical stealth elements seem to be “borrowed” from Lockheed Martin’s fighters—blueprints that China gained through espionage.
What Are The J-20’s Missions Going To Consist Of?
No one is sure how stealthy the design is, what its true capabilities are, and what missions the Chinese PLAN has in store for the fighter. One way the Chinese could use the fighter is by using long-range missiles in air-to-air combat.
The J-20 could be used to punch through opposing air defenses by engaging and destroying enemy fighter patrols, AWACS/AEW&C aircraft, and refueling tankers.
When used as a ground attack platform, the J-20’s large bomb bays and ability to carry long-range air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles could enable it to strike targets far behind enemy lines. This could be Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam, Japan, or South Korea.
This would give China the ability to disrupt enemy supply lines, attack air bases, and threaten US Navy surface assets.
The J-20’s long-range capability also allows it to engage targets beyond the reach of other air-to-ground platforms.
How Will The Tempest Stack Up Against the J-20?
It’s difficult to definitively say if the UK’s Tempest will be a match for China’s J-20, as for one straightforward reason … the J-20 exists and is already in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), albeit without us having much detailed knowledge about it.
The Tempest is still under development, and its final specifications are not yet public. While the Tempest is designed to be a sixth-generation fighter, incorporating advanced technologies, the J-20 is a proven, operational platform.
However, for this piece, we’ll assume (we all know what happens when you assume, right?) that both the J-20 and the Tempest perform exactly like what they are supposed to do.
The Tempest is part of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), a joint effort between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop a sixth-generation fighter. It’s expected to incorporate advanced features like hypersonic weapons, high-energy lasers, and a flexible payload. The payload can be configured, depending on the mission, to carry more weapons or more fuel.
Even if the Tempest is indeed a sixth-generation fighter, will all of its features outperform the J-20? It isn’t known, but it probably would. But by 2035, the J-20 will no longer be a concern. Then it would be the Chengdu J-36.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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