China's J‑20 fighter revealed in rare 'beast mode' footage
A recording has surfaced on social media showcasing China's modern fighter jet, the Chengdu J-20. Notably, the aircraft is operating in what is known as "beast mode." According to the Interesting Engineering portal, this signifies that the J-20 carries missiles under its wings.
The online video is the first instance where one can observe the new stealth characteristic of the J-20 fighter carrying armament under its wings in "beast mode." This refers to a weapons configuration where the aircraft does not carry weaponry in internal compartments but under the wings. However, this configuration imposes limitations on the aircraft's capabilities.
The Chinese J-20 in "beast mode"
The Chengdu J-20 fighter jet is a state-of-the-art Chinese design, one of its key features being its ability to operate in stealth mode. In this configuration, the aircraft is difficult to detect by enemy radar, enabling the J-20 to penetrate deeper into enemy territory. However, this requires the aircraft to be suitably adapted for this capability, primarily by concealing weapons in internal compartments.
There are situations, however, when evading radar detection isn't essential. In these cases, the aircraft can operate in "beast mode." Weapons are then mounted under the wings, as seen in the video of the J-20 in flight, but this results in reduced stealth capability. The aircraft in "beast mode" becomes much easier to detect, but it can carry many armaments.
To clarify, the J-20, produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, is China's first fifth-generation fighter. Initially, it used Russian engines, but it is now equipped with Chinese Shenyang WS-10 engines, which reportedly enhance its speed and range. The J-20 is fitted with PL-15 missiles, which range up to 200 kilometres.
The J-20 can achieve speeds of up to Mach 2 (about 2,500 km/h) and has a range of approximately 1,200 kilometres on internal fuel tanks. In addition to the already mentioned PL-15 missiles, it can also carry PL-12C/D and PL-21 ammunition, as well as laser-guided bombs.
