A recent video circulating on the network shows a test of a two-seat version of China’s next-generation J-20 fighter, with the footage shared on the Telegram channel Dambiev. The clip is described as a new test recording of the second prototype of the two-seat J-20, carrying tail number 2032, a model developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG). The description emphasizes that this is a fresh test capture of a variant designed to expand the operational envelope of China’s stealth air superiority workhorse.
The J-20 has been in service with the People’s Liberation Army since 2017, and industry watchers estimate that mass production could reach well over one hundred fifty units. Government and defense circles note that much information about the J-20 program remains classified, contributing to ongoing speculation about its capabilities and the firm’s broader aviation ambitions. Analysts frequently point to the two-seat variant as a potential path to enhanced air-combat coordination, pilot teamwork in dynamically changing missions, and new training paradigms for frontline squadrons. Still, official disclosures about the variant, its performance metrics, and its intended roles have not been publicly detailed, which sustains a high level of interest among defense enthusiasts and regional observers in North America and across Canada.
In related movements, reports have indicated that China’s KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft is now operational. This airframe is designed to act as a flying radar, extending situational awareness for carrier strike groups and potentially broadening the radar footprint of the carrier Fujian. Observers suggest that improvements in airborne command and control could translate into more coordinated carrier operations, especially in fleets where long-range sensors work in tandem with surface combatants and aircraft.
Earlier developments included the Chinese Navy launching training for the Y-7 transport aircraft, the Chinese version of the Soviet An-26, with deck landings on the third carrier Fujian planned to demonstrate deck compatibility and landing procedures. These training touchdowns are viewed as steps toward integrating heavy transport capability into carrier strike group logistics and rapid mobilization scenarios, reinforcing the Navy’s broader efforts to expand its blue-water operations and mission versatility for large, multi-aircraft deployments. (source attributions: CAIG, Dambiev Telegram, Chinese naval press previews)