China showed for the first time how a fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon fighter jet launched a missile to practice destroying enemy aircraft

China and the US are trying to keep the capabilities of fifth-generation stealth fighters a secret. Nevertheless, Chinese media showed how the J-20 Mighty Dragon launched a missile.

Here's What We Know

Footage of the missile launch was captured in a video that was released in honour of the 74th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force. The fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet launched an air-to-air missile to practice intercepting an enemy aircraft in Chinese airspace.

Many Chinese fighter jets are based on Russian and Soviet aircraft. The J-20, however, is an exception. It is almost entirely copied from the American F-22 Raptor. James Anderson, a former United States Department of Defence official from the Donald Trump administration, claims that China has stolen American technology.

The J-20 Mighty Dragon looks a lot like the F-22 Raptor, the first ever fifth-generation fighter jet. That said, James Anderson claims that the Chinese also used technology from the F-35 Lightning II programme.

The Mighty Dragon first took to the air 12 years ago. It was taken into service in 2017. The US is wary of the J-20 programme as it believes the Chinese fighter could surpass the F-22 Raptor.

The number of J-20s has not been specified. According to current estimates, China has about 200 fifth-generation fighters. At the same time, the US recognises that China's Mighty Dragon fleet continues to grow.

Source: @globaltimesnews