Two-seat J-20 emerges as potential combat C2 aircraft

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China displayed a 1:2 scale model of its twin-seat J-20S aircraft at Airshow China 2024 at Zhuhai in November. (Janes/Sam Wise)

After unveiling a mock-up of a two-seat Chengdu J-20S stealth aircraft at the recently concluded Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has said that the platform could have a role as a fifth-generation tactical command-and-control (C2) aircraft.

While China usually reserves the letter ‘S' to designate trainer aircraft, AVIC told the state-owned newspaper, Global Times , that the J-20S is a “new generation” of medium-to-long range, two-seat stealth fighter, equipped for multirole applications. As an evolution of the baseline single-seat J-20A, the J-20S has “enhanced capabilities in terms of situational awareness, electronic disruption, as well as tactical C2”, Global Times reported in November.

The J-20S would not only give the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) a training platform for J-20-bound pilots, but as a combat aircraft, would allow a second crew member “to manage complex operations such as radar detection and missile attack”, Global Times added, citing an expert.

According to the newspaper, the J-20S' inclusion of a second crew member will enhance the platform's tactical advantages through improved utilisation of “rich information and network systems, automatic data processing systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies”.

The dual-seat aircraft will be capable of conducting precision strikes against land- and sea-based targets, electronic warfare (EW), and supporting manned unmanned-team (MUM-T), the state-owned broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV) said in November.