China's J‑20 fighter jet: Unveiled in 'beast mode' flight
A recording has appeared on social media featuring China's modern fighter jet, the Chengdu J-20. Notably, the aircraft is moving in what is known as "beast mode." According to the Interesting Engineering portal, this means the J-20 carries missiles under its wings.
The online video is the first instance where one can see the new stealth characteristic J-20 fighter carrying armament under its wings in "beast mode." This is a weapons configuration where the aircraft does not carry armament in internal compartments but under the wings. However, this comes with limitations on the aircraft's capabilities.
The Chinese J-20 in "beast mode"
The Chengdu J-20 fighter jet is a modern Chinese design, one of whose features is its ability to operate in stealth mode. In this configuration, the aircraft is difficult to detect by enemy radar, meaning the J-20 can essentially penetrate deeper into enemy territory. However, this requires the aircraft to be suitably adapted for this characteristic—mainly by hiding weapons in internal compartments.
There are situations, however, when hiding the aircraft from radar isn't crucial. In these cases, the aircraft can operate in "beast mode." Weapons are then mounted under the wings—as seen in the video of the J-20 in flight—but this comes at the cost of reduced stealth capability. The aircraft in "beast mode" is much easier to detect, but it can carry more armament.
Let's clarify that the J-20, produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, is China's first fifth-generation fighter. Initially, it used Russian engines, but it is now equipped with Chinese Shenyang WS-10 engines, which are said to increase its speed and range. The J-20 is equipped with PL-15 missiles with a range of up to 200 kilometres.
The J-20 can reach speeds of up to Mach 2 (about 2,500 kilometres per hour) and has a range of approximately 1,200 kilometres on internal fuel tanks. In addition to the aforementioned PL-15 missiles, it can also carry PL-12C/D and PL-21 ammunition, as well as laser-guided bombs.
