Source: The Diplomat
By Rick Joe
When the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter was revealed nearly nine years ago, speculation was rife about its role and mission upon entering service in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
In English language defense media, the most highly circulated and popular theories suggested it was a dedicated interceptor aircraft intended to destroy force multipliers like tanker aircraft or airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, or a dedicated long-range strike aircraft akin to a modern F-111.
However, other similarly sized stealth aircraft like the U.S. F-22 and Russian Su-57 are widely accepted to be air superiority fighters with secondary interceptor and strike roles, and even aircraft like F-35 are intended to field serviceable air superiority characteristics.
Some arguments backing up J-20’s interceptor/strike theory is doctrine driven, suggesting the J-20 was intended to specifically operate in the PLA’s so-called “anti-access, area denial” strategy. However, this is unconvincing, because such a doctrine would still hold a place for air superiority fighters.
Read more at: https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/chinas-stealth-fighter-its-time-to-discuss-j-20s-agility/