China stole US technology to build the fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon fighter that resembles the F-22 Raptor

In the summer of 2022, we wrote about how China copied the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system and Soviet designs for

creation of DF-21 / DF-26 ballistic missiles, HQ-9 air defense systems and J-11 fighters. But China did not stop there.

What is known

James Anderson, formera US Department of Defense official from the Donald Trump administration said that China relied heavily on stolen American technology during the development of the J-20. In effect, the US subsidized part of the Chinese research and development budget. The ex-official urged to strengthen the security of secret weapons systems.

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According to him, within a few years, Chinastole American secret technology. As a result, the fifth-generation Chinese fighter J-20 Mighty Dragon is based on technologies from the F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter, JSF) and F-22 (Advanced Tactical Fighter, ATF) programs. The espionage made the J-20 much stronger than it could have been. In particular, it is known that a Chinese spy stole the drawings of a Lockheed Martin fighter jet, and in 2016 he was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

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J-20 made its first flight in 2011, after 3years after the start of development, and was put into service in 2017. It is practically a copy of the F-22 Raptor, which entered service 10 years earlier. The Chinese plane has small front wings, which is different from the American one. At the same time, it is generally accepted that they have similar flight capabilities and weapons. You can compare the two aircraft externally in the photo below.

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American experts say that the J-20 isa huge leap in the Chinese military industry. At the same time, he did not face the F-22 in a real battle, so it is impossible to say how he will resist the American aircraft.

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The ATF program ended in 2011.During this time, 187 fifth-generation F-22 fighters were produced. After that, the Pentagon gave preference to JSW. Chinese spies in 2009 were able to steal several terabytes of data related to the design and electronic systems of the F-35 Lightning II. Ultimately, by stealing American and European technology, China was able to significantly close the technology gap.