UAE evaluates purchase of Chinese copy of US fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighter - China still bans J-20 Mighty Dragon exports

The UAE is studying the possibility of acquiring Chinese fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon fighters. The information about this emerged after UAE representatives visited Beijing. In the Chinese capital they discussed closer co-operation with the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

There is still a long way to go before a substantive conversation about the acquisition of the J-20 Mighty Dragon. China has banned the sale of its fifth-generation fighters to maintain technological secrecy.

Although the J-20 itself is an almost exact replica of the US F-22 Raptor, the world's first fifth-generation fighter. James Anderson, a former Pentagon official under the Donald Trump administration, said China relied on stolen US technology during the development of the J-20.

According to him, China had been stealing technology for an extended period of time. Although the J-20 looks similar to the F-22, it was also based on the F-35, the second US fifth-generation aircraft.

The first flight of the Mighty Dragon took place in 2011. The fifth-generation fighter entered service in 2017, 10 years later than the US Air Force received the F-22 Raptor.

The upgraded J-20 can carry PL-15 missiles, which is superior in range to the AIM-120 AMRAAM. It is worth noting, however, that the Pentagon does not disclose the parameters of the AIM-120 with the most modern configuration.

By early 2023, China had up to 220 fifth-generation fighters in service. The US Department of Defence report said that annual production reaches 40-50 aircraft.