China's J-20 stealth fighter is a legitimate strategic asset and a significant advancement for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), not just a propaganda tool.

However, it's not yet a definitive match for the U.S. F-35 in all aspects. The J-20 appears optimized for a different role, and its effectiveness is limited by the PLA's lack of combat experience.

The J-20 as a Strategic Asset

The J-20 is a large, twin-engine stealth fighter designed for long-range air superiority. Its reported advantages include:

• Speed and Range: It is a faster aircraft with a longer operational range than the F-35, a design choice that makes sense for the vast distances of the Pacific theater. This allows it to penetrate deep into enemy airspace to target high-value assets like tankers and Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which are critical force multipliers for a modern air force.

• Armament: The J-20 is armed with very long-range air-to-air missiles like the PL-15, which could allow it to engage targets from a distance before they are aware of its presence.

• Sensor Fusion: While the F-35 has an edge, the J-20 reportedly incorporates advanced avionics, an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and a data-sharing network to provide its pilots with a high degree of situational awareness.

The F-35's Unmatched Advantages

The F-35 is a more versatile, multi-role aircraft with a well-established combat record. Its key strengths over the J-20 include:

• Superior Stealth: While the J-20 is a stealth aircraft, its design, particularly the use of canards, may compromise its all-aspect stealth, making it more visible to radar from certain angles. The F-35, in contrast, was designed with a more comprehensive stealth profile.

• Sensor Fusion and Network Integration: The F-35 is widely regarded as a "flying sensor node" at the heart of the U.S. military's Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) network. It excels at gathering and fusing information from multiple sensors and sharing it with other assets across air, land, and sea, making it a powerful force multiplier.

• Combat Experience: This is the most significant difference. The F-35 has been widely adopted by the U.S. and its allies, and it has logged thousands of combat hours in various theaters. The J-20, operated exclusively by the PLAAF, has no combat record. No amount of training can fully replicate the pressures and realities of a high-intensity conflict.