China Displays Missiles on J-20 Fighters for the First Time

China, for the first time displayed two home-grown J-20 fighter aircraft with their missile bays open, each showcasing six missiles on the last day of Zhuhai Airshow 2018 on Sunday.

Of the six missiles, four of them in the J-20’s belly are long-range air-to-air missiles, while the other two on the sides are short-range missiles intended for dogfights, Song Zhongping, a military expert was quoted as saying by Global Times news daily Monday.

The move displayed the J-20’s superiority compared with the United States’ F-22 and F-35 fighter jets. Only three J-20s in formation had flown in the previous day's show. Two of the J-20s then, for the first time at the air show and the first time in public, opened their missile bay doors while flying, showcasing four missiles in its belly and one on each side of the aircraft, the news daily reported.

The J-20 can carry a variety of missiles, which indicates the J-20's strong aerial control capability, Song said.

Sunday also marks the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.