This year, China's J-20 stealth fighters, positioned as the direct competitor of the US Air Force, could overwhelm the F-22 Raptor in numbers. The US claims the Raptor is the best, but it will be outnumbered in 2023 as production of the Chinese J-20 ramps up.
China's J-20 To Boost Production in 2023
Last February 15, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies stated that Beijing's fighter aircraft fleet has strived to increase its numbers in five years. This spike shows the Raptor will be in fewer numbers, which is not good for the US, noted Asia Nikkei.
John Chipman of the ISS gave reporters information about the unprecedented expansion of 5th-generation aircraft in China for the Military Balance 2023, reported Eurasian Times.
He added that the Military Balance database has listed that the PLAAF has more than 150 J-20A, and the US is increasing the number of F-35As, per Nova News. They are about 360, but China could overpower the US with better industrial output. Chipman added that by the end of 2023, the J-20A would be more in numbers than existing F-22s.
In November, Beijing surprised the US by seeing the production lines increasing the output of the J-20 Mighty Dragon, taunting the Pentagon, citing Airforce Technology. One factor is the increased production of Chinese-made engines that allowed the Mighty Dragon to threaten the balance of power.
Prior data says that China has more than 150 Mighty Dragons built, while the US Air Force advertised it would amass a fleet of this early 5th gen aircraft. America wanted to dominate the 21st-century airpower, but it turned out to be a pipedream. To the chagrin of the US military, it only had 186 of these fighters when its production was dropped in 2012.
Washington concentrated on a super advance fighter that proved too expensive and impractical. The US cringes at thinking terrorists can shoot down an expensive platform with cheaper weapons.
US To Push F-35 as Its Key Asset
Fewer units of the Raptor force the US to choose a lighter F-35 that is cheaper and more versatile. But the Raptor will be in service until the USAF air superiority with a better one.
Mighty Dragon with 150 units in combat condition to only 100 of the F-22 is alleged. One way for the US to get edged is to have the Raptor's successor. The development of the J-20 is to counter the F-22 and F-35 in the Indo-Pacific. Information from sources says that the PLAAF has these advanced fighters in all five theater commands.
Mighty Dragon is the best system of China to counter the US and its allies in the Taiwan Strait. It was first shown in the Zhuhai Air Show several months ago when two units appeared. The Mighty Dragon is versatile, and its presence threatens the US and its allies.
The PLA got an increase in the defense budget of about $16 billion, its most significant increase yet. China's J-20, as it increases units, will be the most dominant stealth fighter in numbers as the F-22 stops production. Balance of power will shift in the Indo-Pacific as the PLAAF gets more 5th gen units churned out. More F-35s would matter due to the shortcoming in capabilities.
