At the 2025 Changchun Air Show, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showcased the J-20 stealth fighter in a static ground display for the first time, moving beyond its usual flypast appearances. The event also revealed a major production milestone, with the 300th J-20 identified, underscoring China’s rapid fleet expansion and growing confidence in its premier fifth-generation fighter—an indicator of shifting regional airpower dynamics.
Earlier, on September 9, 2025, the PLA Military Updates X account released older images showing a J-20 in “beast mode.” The aircraft was depicted carrying twelve PL-15 long-range and two PL-10 short-range air-to-air missiles, with eight PL-15s mounted externally and the rest housed internally. While this loadout compromises stealth, the J-20 could operate as a long-range missile platform when supported by a KJ-500 early warning aircraft under the “A guide, B shoot” doctrine.
The PL-15, produced by the China Airborne Missile Academy, has been in PLAAF service since the mid-2010s. Featuring a dual-pulse solid rocket motor, it achieves reported speeds above Mach 5 with an estimated range of 200–300 km. Its export variant, the PL-15E, supplied to Pakistan, has a reduced range of about 145 km. During the India–Pakistan conflict in May 2025, the Pakistan Air Force employed both PL-15 and PL-15E missiles operationally, with J-10C fighters firing them at Indian Air Force aircraft. A Rafale was among the reported losses, and debris of PL-15Es recovered on Indian soil confirmed their combat debut.
