Manned fighters still rule in US-China battle for air supremacy

Gabriel Honrada

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With China rapidly expanding its J-20 stealth fleet and the US extending the life of its F-22 Raptors, both sides are doubling down on manned airpower, showing that despite advances in drone technology, pilots still rule the skies.

This month, multiple media sources reported that China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has reached a significant milestone by fielding at least 300 Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters, underscoring its accelerating buildup of fifth-generation combat aircraft.

The confirmation came as four J-20s, including the 300th production airframe identified by its construction number “CB10300,” arrived in Changchun, Jilin province, for an air show in mid-September.

Analysts noted the PLAAF has added at least 50 new aircraft since June 2024, reflecting a rapid delivery pace that places China second only to the US in operational stealth fleets.

The J-20 fleet now rivals the scale of the US Air Force’s 180 F-22 Raptors and more than 240 F-35As, though the US total remains larger when US Marine Corps and US Navy aircraft are included.

The J-20’s expansion illustrates China’s strategy of mass-producing modern platforms to contest US air dominance in Asia, with the program evolving from a developmental project less than a decade ago into the backbone of China’s airpower.

The US is not to be outdone. The War Zone (TWZ) reported this month that Lockheed Martin is urging the US Air Force to expand its F-22 Raptor upgrade program to include 35 older Block 20 jets currently used for training, aiming to bolster combat readiness amid uncertainty over the aircraft’s replacement timeline.

Skunk Works Vice President OJ Sanchez emphasized the strategic value of modernizing these sidelined aircraft at the recent Air, Space & Cyber Conference in Maryland. The push follows US Congressional pressure and operational concerns, as the US Air Force lacks a definitive successor to the F-22. Upgrades would extend viability into the 2040s, enhancing stealth, sensors and crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities.