China's J-20 stealth fighter has made its public debut at an air show, in the latest sign of the growing sophistication of the country's military technology.
The fifth-generation warplane, which outwardly resembles the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in service with the US military, performed a series of manoeuvres on Tuesday under overcast skies at Airshow China in the southern city of Zhuhai.
The long-range J-20, armed with air-to-air missiles, performed its first test flight in 2011 and has been the object of feverish attention by the nation's aviation buffs. At least six prototypes have been produced, according to an annual report on the Chinese military issued by the Pentagon this year.
The Pentagon says a second Chinese stealth fighter under development, the FC-31, is intended for export as a competitor to the US F-35. The FC-31 first flew in 2012 and debuted at Zhuhai in 2014. China is the only country apart from the US to have two concurrent stealth aircraft development programs.
While the planes' stealth capabilities remain a secret, the Pentagon said that China views the technology as key to its transformation from a "predominantly territorial air force to one capable of conducting both offensive and defensive operations".
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