Key Points and Summary – China’s J-20 “Mighty Dragon” stealth fighter has received a major upgrade that reportedly triples its radar’s detection range.
-This “dramatic leap,” confirmed in June, is thanks to a domestic breakthrough in semiconductor technology, specifically the development of high-purity silicon carbide (SiC) crystals by a team at Shandong University.
-This new material significantly improves the efficiency of the J-20’s radar modules, boosting its ability to detect enemy aircraft and enhancing missile targeting.
-The homegrown advancement poses a significant new challenge to the U.S. and increases China’s military confidence in the Indo-Pacific.
China’s J-20 Fighter Gets a Big Update
China’s Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” stealth fighter jet just got a major upgrade a few months back, thanks to breakthroughs in semiconductor technology.
The modern fighter jet is now capable of detecting enemy aircraft at three times its radar range, all thanks to discoveries made by Xu Xiangang and his team at China’s Institute of Novel Semiconductors at Shandong University.
The news was confirmed back in June in a report by the South China Morning Post.
In a social media post by the university on May 30, Xu and the State Key Laboratory team were credited with a dramatic leap in phased-array radar performance.
Speaking about the development, Xu said that China’s ability to grow high-purity, semi-insulating SiC crystals – a type of semiconductor material that featured a hexagonal crystal structure that makes them suitable for high-frequency and high-power devices – is essential for China’s national security.
The new SiC substrates improve radar module efficiency, tripling detection range and boosting missile targeting accuracy and laser weapon power.
While the United States has integrated SiC into its F-35s, China’s ability to develop these more advanced materials at domestic facilities constitutes a significant leap that U.S. forces must now match.
China’s J-20 in 1 Word: Stealth
The Chengdu J-20 is China’s first homegrown fifth-generation stealth fighter. It first flew on January 11, 2011, then entered service in March 2017. The jet made China the second nation to field an operational fifth-generation stealth aircraft after the United States.
The J-20 is a twin-engine, single-seat jet with a wingspan of 13.01 m and a top speed of Mach 2.0. The plane is powered by two Shenyang WS-10C turbofans, and equipped with an array of sensors, including a JLJ-5 AESA radar.
The news that China has dramatically increased the performance of its J-20 jets is significant, and it comes at a time when Beijing is becoming increasingly confident in its ability to “reclaim” territory in Taiwan.
While the United States has warned China against invading, it’s entirely possible that Chinese leadership believes an invasion could begin while Western countries are focused on winning the war in Ukraine. It’s also possible that Beijing is waiting to see who replaces U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2028 election.
The J-20 is one of the most important assets for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and has already been deployed across five theater commands.
As of May 2024, 12 air brigades operated J-20s, with three brigades fully equipped with the aircraft.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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Doyle
June 11, 2025 at 7:20 pm
Such a radar, if it actually exists, is better suited for the J-16 fighter and not so much for j-20.
China would never invade taiwan, attack yes, invasion no.
That’s because of the very large numbers of chinese students and tourists abroad, and significant holdings of US treasury bills.
And numerous sports events and agreements to consider.
Jay
June 12, 2025 at 8:18 am
They can say whatever they want most is BS and the fact is an older US F-15 is better then any Chinese fighter even their so called 6th gen
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Jay
June 12, 2025 at 4:43 pm
And here I was guessing the four words should be: They Stole Another Design
chrisford1
July 23, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Nations get ahead when they steal other nations and their victims are too lazy and smug to do anything about it.
We did it to Britain in the 19th century. Stole their inventions and industry and were destroying their empire even before WW1. And sold what we made cheaper and used engineers to improve things, vs. create them from scratch.
China is doing the same thing to us and we are too stupid, smug, lazy to fight back or oust China’s 150,000 spies and tech H1-B people/students.
Instead we sniff – “But, but they COPIED US! So it’s not like COPIED stuff could ever be a threat!”
Matt Brown
June 12, 2025 at 6:34 pm
👍🏽
Shortstick
June 13, 2025 at 3:34 am
Stolen tech or another democrat is selling the info/ technology to them.
Rectal Prolapse.
June 13, 2025 at 3:57 am
China has not fought a war in 1,000 years. They’re country would collapse if they were attacked. At best their population starves to death. At worse they get nuclear bombed. Either way everyone loses.
Ed
June 13, 2025 at 10:00 am
Admire it Americans. YOU PAID FOR IT !!!
Ching Chang
June 13, 2025 at 6:53 pm
A Piece Of Garbage. 4 words to describe the Chinese garbage.
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justin campbell
July 29, 2025 at 8:22 am
Hubris is a powerful drug