15 J-10s in the same frame, brushing the wings together, the piercing roar resounded through the northwest land, and at the same time, the People's Liberation Army also released an important signal.
Not long ago, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced a bombshell news, in a short video, at least 15 J-20 stealth fighters were seen in a spectacular display of elephant walks.
Although the video frame only shows 10 J-20s, after careful analysis, a vertical row can be seen on the far left of the screen, revealing the existence of at least 15 J-20s. The display was notable not only because of its large number, but also because it took place in the northwest region of China, showing the first double-digit J-20 fighter jets, which is of great strategic significance.
Typically, China tends to deploy its most advanced weapons systems along the eastern seaboard as a direct response to a potential threat. However, the display of such a number of high-end fighters in the remote western region this time shows that the total number of Chinese fighter jets has increased significantly enough to support a nationwide deployment.
This strategic realignment should not be underestimated, and it means that China is improving its defense capabilities and rapid response capabilities in all directions.
According to Japan's defense white paper, the number of Chinese J-20 aircraft has reached 200, but that number is likely based on at least a year ago. Considering China's strong need to upgrade its military equipment and efficient production lines, the actual number of J-20s is undoubtedly more impressive.
This is evidenced by the assessment that China has the same number of fifth-generation fighters deployed as other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This means that China is not only satisfied with a military balance with United States, Japan, and Korea in the region, but is also actively seeking to establish its regional superiority through both quantitative and qualitative superiority.
At the same time, with the more advanced turbofan-15 engine began to be equipped, the J-20 has reached the stage of maturity of full combat capability, further confirming that China is continuously increasing its advanced fighter production capacity.
What is more noteworthy is that China has not stopped iteratively upgrading the J-20 in technology, and its clear goal is to upgrade the J-20 to a level close to that of a sixth-generation fighter.
Against this background, Taiwan has shown a significant sense of urgency to improve its anti-stealth combat capabilities.
According to reports, Taiwan's local air force plans to purchase five to six E-2D airborne early warning aircraft to strengthen its ability to detect and track stealth fighters, especially the J-20. The AN/APY-9 radar on board the E-2D is believed to have the ability to detect and identify stealth targets, which is an important tactical upgrade for the Taiwan Air Force.
However, an effective strike against stealth fighters is not an easy task. The E-2D can also become an obvious target when performing tasks, and its survivability is called into question in the face of the complex air defense system of the PLA.
The PLA's J-20 not only has advanced stealth capabilities, but is also equipped with long-range precision strike weapons, which are more than enough to counter any air threat, including the E-2D.
This shows that under the current technological and tactical landscape, even with the adoption of advanced early warning systems, the security challenges facing Taiwan are still severe. Taiwan's air command and radar capabilities, even after the acquisition of the E-2D, will not be able to completely eliminate the strategic pressure brought about by the PLA's superior military capabilities.
In addition, there is also a picture circulated in the media, which makes people see even more clearly how self-sufficient the "independence-seeking" elements on the island are.
The photo shows two F-16BM fighters from Taiwan's local air force Chiayi base taking off with AGM-88 Hamm anti-radiation missile trainer missiles on board.
United States first sold Taiwan the Hamm anti-radiation missile in 2017, which can track radar electromagnetic radiation and destroy radar facilities, and is an important piece of electronic warfare equipment for the US military.
The reason why Taiwan chose this missile is, on the one hand, that it can be carried and launched by F-16 fighters, so as to cover strategic targets along the southeast coast of the mainland; On the other hand, it is also expected to gain air supremacy by striking the radar system on the other side.
However, modern warfare is a comprehensive system competition involving various fields and at various levels, and it is difficult to change the overall battlefield situation by relying on the superiority of one or two missiles alone. Especially when the Hamm missile has been in service for many years and the countermeasures against it have long been mature, Taiwan's military strategy seems even more unrealistic.
For example, in the face of a potential military conflict, the PLA is fully capable of destroying Taiwan's air defense, airports, and other key military facilities first, thus making the anti-radiation missile launching capability of Taiwan's armed forces go to waste.
In addition, Taiwan's current weapons configuration cannot be compared with the PLA's advanced weapons systems, especially in terms of stealth fighters. In the past few years, although Taiwan has frequently reported PLA fighters patrolling around the island, it has rarely mentioned the appearance of the J-20.
This is not that the J-20 did not approach the vicinity of Taiwan, but that Taiwan's radar system could not detect this stealth fighter at all. A retired lieutenant general of Taiwan's local air force once analyzed the J-20 in depth and frankly said that Taiwan's local military radar could not detect its existence, and this technological gap directly affected Taiwan's competitiveness in the struggle for air supremacy.
In general, the actions of the "independence-seekers" on the island are not only unrealistic, but may also push Taiwan to the brink of unnecessary danger. For the sake of regional peace and stability, the two sides of the strait should strive to resolve disputes through dialogue and cooperation and avoid conflicts and confrontations from causing indelible harm to compatriots on both sides of the strait.