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World Defense & Security News - China
 
 
China reportedly rolled out first LRIP version of the Chengdu J-20 fighter aircraft
 
According to pictures released on Chinese specialized websites, the first low rate initial production (LRIP) version of the Chengdu J-20 5th-gen fighter aircraft, numbered 2101, made its first appearance at Chengdu State Aircraft Factory No.132 Aircraft Plant. It may now perform its maiden flight in the next few weeks, local sources said.
     
China reportedly rolled out first LRIP version of the Chengdu J 20 fighter aircraft 640 001China's first LRIP version of the J-20 fighter aircraft reportedly appeared at No.132 Aircraft Plant
(Source: Internet)
     
In late November, 2015; a the last J-20 prototype numbered 2017 took to the sky. According to the latest source, the design of J-20 is already mature and will not directly use the 117S engine.

Assuming serial production, the first Chinese squadron of J-20s will start flying in 2017, about six years after the J-20's first flight in January 2011.

China will be the second country in the world, after the USA, to field an operational stealth fighter force in the "fifth generation" category. While the initial batch of J-20s may not be as fast as the F-22 (but will be fast as the F-35), they will still possess stealthy features, advanced radars, jammers, infrared sensors and long range missiles, providing new competition in the arms race to dominate the skies.