PLAAF J-20 Stealth Fighter Elephant Walk: Regional Air Superiority Shift

PLAAF Showcases Air Superiority via J-20 Elephant Walk

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Feb 16, 2026 - : 11:13 am

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The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has significantly increased the frequency and scale of its elephant walk exercises involving the J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ stealth fighter, signaling a transition from low-rate production to mass operational readiness. These synchronized taxiing manoeuvres, historically used by the United States Air Force to demonstrate maximum sortie surge capabilities, have become a staple of Chinese military displays throughout 2024 and 2025. The most recent demonstrations, staged at various airbases across the Eastern and Southern Theatre Commands, serve as a blunt reminder of China’s maturing industrial capacity to generate high-volume fifth-generation airpower.

Industrial surge and the 300-airframe milestone

Recent assessments from international aerospace observers and satellite imagery indicate that the PLAAF has now exceeded 300 operational J-20 airframes as of early 2026. This rapid expansion is underpinned by the stabilization of domestic WS-15 engine production, which has replaced the older Russian and interim Chinese powerplants. The increased production rate, estimated at approximately 120 aircraft annually, allows the PLAAF to conduct large-scale drills that were once the sole domain of Western air forces. These elephant walks are not merely for show; they test the logistical chain, ground crew efficiency, and the ability of a wing to mobilize a massive number of stealth assets in a single, coordinated window.

Official debuts and technical evolution

According to reports from the Global Times and the South China Morning Post in late 2025 and January 2026, the PLAAF has officially introduced two major upgrades to the fleet: the J-20A, featuring enhanced stealth coatings and improved avionics, and the J-20S, the world’s first operational two-seat stealth fighter. The J-20S made a prominent appearance at the 2025 Changchun Air Show, where Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang noted that the event themed ‘soaring in the sky, winning the future’ was designed to display active-duty equipment and the maturity of the force. Analysts suggest the two-seat variant is specifically designed for Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), allowing the second officer to control ‘loyal wingman’ drones like the GJ-11.

Asia Pacific strategic implications

The proliferation of J-20 units across the Asia Pacific is recalibrating the regional balance of power. While the US Air Force and its allies in Japan and Australia maintain a qualitative edge with the F-35 Lightning II, the sheer volume of J-20s now outnumbers the total global fleet of F-22 Raptors. Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, stated in a recent interview that the continuous upgrades to the J-20 series have made them the mainstays in safeguarding airspace security, noting that pilots now rely on upgraded avionics and sensors rather than the naked eye for all-directional visibility. This shift toward a networked, high-mass air combat model poses a direct challenge to traditional Western air superiority in the Indo-Pacific theatre.

Readiness and combat testing

Despite the visual impact of massed taxiing maneuvers, some international observers remain cautious about the platform's actual combat performance. Military analyst Brent Eastwood recently remarked that while the J-20 poses a credible threat, it remains largely combat-untested compared to its American counterparts. However, the PLAAF’s focus on high-readiness exercises and the integration of long-range PL-15 missiles suggests a strategy aimed at denying access to regional airspace. With an estimated 1,000 J-20s projected to be in service by 2030, the ‘elephant walk’ is no longer a rare display of potential, but a routine demonstration of an established and formidable force.