PUBLISHED on August 12, 2025, 12:46 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary – In a recent Chinese military exercise, a 4.5-generation J-10C fighter successfully simulated a “shoot down” of a superior 5th-generation J-20 stealth fighter.
-This surprising feat was not achieved one-on-one. The J-10C pilot was only able to score the kill after his own radar lost the target, relying on critical targeting data fed to him from a network of friendly early warning aircraft and ground systems.
-The exercise highlights China’s increasing focus on integrated, systems-based warfare, which can make its older, non-stealthy aircraft a credible threat even to top-tier fighters.
Yes, A J-20 Mighty Dragon Was Beaten
During a combat exercise in China in early August 2025, a J-10C fighter managed to “shoot down” a J-20 stealth fighter, according to official media sources. This feat was accomplished with the help of AEW&C and other ground systems, highlighting the importance of coordinated and integrated land and air systems.
This makes it the first time in China’s history that a J-10 has been able to best a fifth-generation aircraft.
How a J-10C “Shot Down” a J-20 Stealth Fighter
The exercise featured a large number of aircraft on both sides, from AEW&Cs to aerial refuelers to combat aircraft. Xiao Nan, the pilot of the J-10C, reported that he briefly detected the “enemy” J-20 on his radar before launching a missile at it.
After firing upon the enemy stealth fighter, the J-20 disappeared off his sensors. Xiao Nan then requested a friendly unit to scan for the enemy craft, suspecting that it was a stealth craft or that his radar was jammed. Due to the coordination of various air and ground systems, the J-20 was successfully “shot down,” marking the first time a J-10C was able to beat an opposing stealth craft.
While exercises do not often replicate real-time combat scenarios perfectly, this particular event perfectly showcases the importance of integrated systems and coordination with allied aircraft. Experts in China attributed the victory of the J-10C to its allied systems, which helped detect and lock onto the enemy stealth fighter.
Had the J-10 engaged the J-20 without support, the outcome would likely have resulted in the J-20’s victory. Nevertheless, this event highlights the J-10 as a staple of the PLAAF’s fleet.
The Backbone of China’s Air Fleet
The J-10C is the most advanced variant of the J-10 series, designed to be a versatile and cost-effective fighter. It features a canard-delta wing configuration, which provides excellent maneuverability, especially in close-range dogfights. Powered by a single WS-10B turbofan engine with thrust vectoring, the J-10C can perform agile maneuvers and rapid turns.
It is equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which provides a detection range of over 50 kilometers. Its cockpit is outfitted with modern avionics, including a glass cockpit and a helmet-mounted display. While the J-10C incorporates some stealth features such as radar-absorbing coatings and redesigned intakes, it does not match the stealth capabilities of fifth-generation aircraft.
In contrast, the J-20, known as the “Mighty Dragon,” is China’s flagship fifth-generation fighter, designed for long-range interception and strategic air dominance. It is powered by twin WS-10C or the newer WS-15 engines, which provide high thrust and potential supercruise capability.
The J-20’s design emphasizes stealth, featuring internal weapon bays, radar-absorbing materials, and diverterless supersonic intakes. Its avionics suite includes an advanced AESA radar and sophisticated sensor fusion capabilities, allowing it to detect and track targets at long distances while remaining undetected.
The J-20 also has variants, such as the twin-seat J-20S, which are intended for manned-unmanned teaming and electronic warfare operations.
Why the J-20 Usually Trumps the J-10
When comparing performance metrics, the J-20 outclasses the J-10C in several areas. The J-20 is a fifth-generation aircraft characterized by superior stealth, extended range, and advanced avionics.
It can reach speeds of Mach 2.0, compared to the J-10C’s Mach 1.8, and has a combat range of approximately 5,500 kilometers with internal fuel, more than double that of the J-10C. The J-20 also carries its weapons internally to maintain stealth, including the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile and potentially the PL-21 in future upgrades. The J-10C, while capable of carrying similar weapons, does so externally, which compromises its radar signature.
Despite these differences, both aircraft serve essential roles in the PLAAF. The J-10C is widely deployed across various theater commands and is used for air defense, strike missions, and support roles. Its affordability and ease of maintenance make it ideal for mass deployment, with over 240 units reportedly in service.
The J-20, on the other hand, is reserved for elite brigades and high-value missions, such as patrols near Taiwan and the South China Sea. Around 150 units are believed to be operational, and production is accelerating.
The Importance of Integrated Allied Systems
Strategically, the J-10C offers several advantages. It is cost-effective, widely available, and capable of high sortie rates. It performs well in networked environments and has export potential, with interest from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt.
The J-20, meanwhile, is designed for contested airspace and peer-level engagements. Its stealth and sensor fusion capabilities make it ideal for long-range interception and strategic missions. It is also future-proofed with potential upgrades, such as thrust-vectoring engines and manned-unmanned teaming.
In a direct one-on-one dogfight, the J-20 would likely prevail due to its stealth capabilities, superior sensors, and long-range missile capability.
The J-10C would struggle to detect and engage the J-20 without external support. However, in a networked combat environment, the outcome is less predictable. As demonstrated in PLA exercises, the J-10C can defeat the J-20 when backed by AEW&Cs and electronic warfare platforms. This underscores the importance of systems warfare over platform-centric thinking.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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