New Delhi: China has reportedly expanded the deployment of its advanced J-20 stealth fighter jets at airbases close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a move that could have significant strategic implications for India’s air defence preparedness. As per an NDTV report, recent satellite imagery suggests that at least 11 J-20 aircraft were stationed at two military airbases facing India in late June and early July.
The satellite images, sourced from geospatial intelligence firm Vantor, reportedly show seven J-20 fighters parked at Hotan Air Base in China’s Xinjiang region on July 9. The base is located around 389 kilometres from Leh and approximately 245 kilometres from the Indian Air Force’s Daulat Beg Oldie airstrip in eastern Ladakh.
A separate image reportedly captured four additional J-20s at Damxung Air Base in Tibet’s Lhasa prefecture, situated roughly 344 kilometres from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Defence experts quoted in the report believe the deployment reflects a shift from occasional demonstrations to regular frontline operations involving China’s fifth-generation stealth aircraft.
Former Indian Air Force fighter pilot and aerospace expert Sameer Joshi was quoted as saying that the presence of J-20s at high-altitude airbases indicates that stealth fighter operations near India’s northern borders have become a routine feature of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). He noted that the development underscores the need for India to strengthen its counter-stealth surveillance systems, integrated air defence network and long-range strike capabilities.
The J-20 “Mighty Dragon” is China’s most advanced operational fighter aircraft and is designed with stealth technology intended to reduce its radar visibility. Analysts believe these capabilities provide it with an operational advantage over conventional fourth-generation fighters.
India currently does not operate an indigenous stealth fighter. Its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, expected to become the country’s first homegrown fifth-generation combat aircraft, is still under development and is unlikely to enter operational service for several years, subject to successful testing and certification.
The report also highlighted the rapid expansion of China’s J-20 fleet in recent years. Citing international defence assessments, it noted that production has accelerated significantly, with estimates suggesting the People’s Liberation Army Air Force could eventually operate close to 1,000 J-20 aircraft by the end of the decade.
Former Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (Retd.) attributed China’s growing fleet to its highly integrated manufacturing ecosystem and sustained long-term investment in defence production. He observed that Beijing had pursued military aviation as a national priority following lessons drawn from modern conflicts.
In comparison, the Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighter jets across two squadrons, in addition to a large fleet of Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 aircraft. The Indian Navy has also placed an order for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets, while negotiations continue for the proposed acquisition of 114 additional Rafales for the Air Force.
The reported deployment of additional J-20 aircraft near India’s borders is expected to be closely watched by defence planners as New Delhi continues efforts to modernise its air combat capabilities and strengthen deterrence along the northern frontier.
