J-10C Fighter Jet "Shoots Down" J-20 in Training Exercise, Highlighting System Support

During a day-and-night flight training exercise, J-10 fighter jets from an aviation brigade of the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command took off in succession.

An official media report revealed that a J-10C fighter jet "shot down" a J-20 stealth fighter jet in a recent confrontational exercise, with the support of the combat system. An expert emphasized the significance of this systematic support, suggesting that early warning aircraft may have played a crucial role in providing targeting information.

The combat training outcome was initially mentioned in a report from China Bugle, an official media account of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) news media center. The report was part of a documentary film. The details of the exercise were later released, with China Central Television (CCTV) reporting on the pilot of the J-10C's account of how he achieved the "shoot down."

During the exercise, the J-10C pilot, Xiao Nan, found that his aircraft could no longer detect the opposing target after launching a missile. He requested assistance from a friendly unit to scan for the target, suspecting it might be a stealth aircraft or that his radar was jammed. The missile eventually found its target, resulting in the successful "shoot down" of the opposing stealth aircraft. Xiao noted that this was the first time his unit had achieved such results against a higher-generation warplane during an exercise. He highlighted that without the system support, defeating a stealth aircraft would be impossible, but with it, the J-10C remained a formidable asset.

The CCTV report also detailed another exercise involving the J-10C fighter jet, the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft, and the J-20 stealth fighter jet. The mission was to seize control of the area and destroy a fixed defensive position.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, stated that while the J-10C is a world-class aircraft, it would be outmatched by the J-20 in a one-on-one combat. He attributed the J-10C's victory to the support of the system, specifically suggesting that early warning aircraft provided information support, enabling the J-10C to lock onto the J-20. This demonstrates the J-10C's continued importance in safeguarding China’s sovereignty and security. Wang noted that the J-10C, in conjunction with the J-20s, remains a top-tier asset for the PLA Air Force in terms of both quality and quantity.