Recently, a video clip has been circulating on Weibo recording the scene of the J-20 stealth fighter of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLAAF) flying in a formation described by observers as "monster mode", with 8 long-range anti-aircraft missiles (AAM) mounted under the wing.
The J-20 appeared with the above configuration that was first recorded in February 2025, also through a video posted on social media.
Both footage shows the plane in light yellow, unlike the dark gray or black color of the old J-20-20 variants, J-20A or J-20S/J-20AS, making many people suspect that the video is just a copy.
However, military expert Andreas rupprecht (Germany) confirmed that these were two separate recordings.
The February 2025 video was filmed in cloudy weather conditions; at that time, a door-like lid could be seen landing on both sides of the aircraft's belly that was about to land, showing the J-20 preparing to land.
Meanwhile, the new video was filmed under the blue sky and misty clouds, showing no signs of the door opening even more. Although the lower body was covered by a black bulb, the lifting direction of the air shows that the plane is gaining altitude after takeoff.
According to expert Andreas, the two appearances of the J-20 in "monster mode" are likely to be test flights to evaluate the new weapons suspension, test the structural durability, performance of the aircraft, missiles, launch price, as well as their impact on radar reflection coordinates (RCS).
In the new video, the J-20 carries 8 AAM missiles, divided equally on the 2 wings. These missiles are said to be PL-15 with a range of 300km or PL-17 with a range of 400km. Inside the main arms in the center of the body can carry 4 PL-A, while the 2 secondary compartments on the sides can contain 2 PL-10 near-range.
According to the expert's assumption, the total number of missiles that the J-20 can carry is up to 14.
The J-20 is currently the main stealth fighter of PLAAF, with 300 confirmed to be in service after the 300th was launched at the recent Truong Xuan Aviation Exhibition.
Initial assessments suggest that the J-20 could be designed as an aerial snail, taking advantage of its disappearance and jamming capabilities to overcome enemy fighter jets, to destroy vulnerable support aircraft such as refueling or early warning (AEW&C).
Thanks to an advanced sensor system and network connectivity, the J-20 can also take on the role of a command center in the air, enhancing tinh hinh awareness and supporting tactical decision-making for aircraft of the 4th and 4.5 generations that are unable to remain invisible.
