A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)

China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.

Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of the flight and has geolocated the site of the flight to the CAC company airfield, Chengdu-Huangtianba. However, low quality of the images make it difficult to independently verify the installation of the WS-15 engine with the aircraft.

The shape of the engine nozzles is unclear.Despite the low quality of the imagery, the engines appear to lack the thrust vectoring control (TVC) paddles associated with the 166 kN-class WS-15 Emei engine.

A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)

China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.

Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of the flight and has geolocated the site of the flight to the CAC company airfield, Chengdu-Huangtianba. However, low quality of the images make it difficult to independently verify the installation of the WS-15 engine with the aircraft.

The shape of the engine nozzles is unclear.Despite the low quality of the imagery, the engines appear to lack the thrust vectoring control (TVC) paddles associated with the 166 kN-class WS-15 Emei engine.

A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)

China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.

Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of the flight and has geolocated the site of the flight to the CAC company airfield, Chengdu-Huangtianba. However, low quality of the images make it difficult to independently verify the installation of the WS-15 engine with the aircraft.

The shape of the engine nozzles is unclear.Despite the low quality of the imagery, the engines appear to lack the thrust vectoring control (TVC) paddles associated with the 166 kN-class WS-15 Emei engine.

A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)

China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.

Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of the flight and has geolocated the site of the flight to the CAC company airfield, Chengdu-Huangtianba. However, low quality of the images make it difficult to independently verify the installation of the WS-15 engine with the aircraft.

The shape of the engine nozzles is unclear.Despite the low quality of the imagery, the engines appear to lack the thrust vectoring control (TVC) paddles associated with the 166 kN-class WS-15 Emei engine.

A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)

China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.

Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of the flight and has geolocated the site of the flight to the CAC company airfield, Chengdu-Huangtianba. However, low quality of the images make it difficult to independently verify the installation of the WS-15 engine with the aircraft.

The shape of the engine nozzles is unclear.Despite the low quality of the imagery, the engines appear to lack the thrust vectoring control (TVC) paddles associated with the 166 kN-class WS-15 Emei engine.

A new variant of the CAC J-20 fifth-generation fighter includes design changes to improve low-observable characteristics and aerodynamics. This variant appears to have also been equipped with the new WS-15 powerplant. (Janes)

China appears to have flown a new variant of its Chengdu Aircraft Industries (Group) Company (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter with two new Shenyang WS-15 turbofan engines for the first time.

Information on Chinese social media suggest that this milestone event took place on 28 June. Janes assessed imagery of the flight and has geolocated the site of the flight to the CAC company airfield, Chengdu-Huangtianba. However, low quality of the images make it difficult to independently verify the installation of the WS-15 engine with the aircraft.

The shape of the engine nozzles is unclear.Despite the low quality of the imagery, the engines appear to lack the thrust vectoring control (TVC) paddles associated with the 166 kN-class WS-15 Emei engine.