The deployment of the J-20 stealth fighter for combat service and Su-35 jets for drills over the South China Sea shows the air force has “significantly boosted” its capacity to handle security threats from the sky, according to the People’s Liberation Army.
Wang Mingzhi, a senior researcher with the PLA Air Force Command College, also said on Monday that patrols over the South China Sea would become “more regular”.
The air force on Friday confirmed that its J-20 stealth fighter was combat-ready after it entered military service in September.
The Su-35 is powered by two turbofan engines, giving it a range of about 3,500km on internal fuel, making it one of the most advanced multi-role fighters.
