China’s Fighter Aircraft Development: A Brief History

Summary

The assistance of the Soviet Union was crucial for the PRC in setting up its basic aviation industry infrastructure for assembling and producing fighter jets in the 1950s. Over the years, China built a number of fighter jets by imitating the Soviet-models. In 2018, it built the indigenous fighter jet J-20. China is now aspiring to outperform the US in research and development of fighter jets. 

In October 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had around 100 fighter jets, most of them captured from the Kuomintang.[1] At the founding ceremony of the PRC on 1 October 1949, 17 aircraft made up of P-51 fighters, C-46 transport aircraft, L-5 liaison aircraft, PT-19 trainer aircraft, and De Havilland Mosquito aircraft participated.[2] In 2025, the PRC has more than 1,900 active fighter jets of various types, as per the ‘2024 China Military Power Report’ released by the US Pentagon in December 2024.[3]  Given that all of these active fighter jets are fully localised, it reflects a significant increase in capabilities of China’s fighter jets production and manufacturing.

The PLA Air Force was established on 11 November 1949[4] while the Aviation Industry Bureau was set up on 29 April 1951.[5] For the foundational development of China’s aviation industry, the Korean War (1950–1953) was a blessing in disguise because China received a large number of Soviet fighter jets to fight against the United Nations Command led by the United States.[6] With the Soviet assistance in July 1951, China re-established and re-equipped the aviation factories in Mukden set up by the State of Manchuria, Japan in 1938.[7] Agreements were signed with the Soviet Union to permit the production of Soviet fighter jet models in China in November 1952. China began producing Yak-12 and Yak-18 fighters, An-2 biplane, Mi-4 helicopters and Ash-82 engines.

A third agreement was signed with the Soviet Union in 1954 to set up a production line for MiG series fighter jet at the newly established Factory 112 in Shenyang in 1951.[8] Factory 112 manufactured the Soviet-designed single-seat MiG-15 BIS and two-seat MiG-15UTI fighter jets.[9] Subsequently, in mid-1950s, the Factory 112 also produced MiG-17F and MiG-17PF under the Chinese designation J-5. In parallel, the manufacturing line of Soviet-designed engines including Klimov VK-1 engine was set up in Harbin.[10] The first batch of MiG-15UTI and MiG-17F (J-5) were inducted into the service by the PLA Air Force in 1956.[11] By 1959, a foundational infrastructure of aircraft manufacture was set up which was capable of producing Soviet-made aircraft. China’s first fighter jet that was put into mass production was the J-6 in 1962. The J-6 was based on the Soviet-designed MiG-19 fighter jet licensed produced by Factory 112 in Shenyang.[12]

Following the political breach with the Soviet Union, China established its first aircraft design and research institute known as Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute (referred to as the ‘601 Institute’) in 1961.[13] Soon after its establishment, the institute undertook the research and development task of J-8 fighter jet. The institute is credited with developing more than 30 models of fighter jets and came to be known as the “base for fighter design and research”.[14]

Alongside the J-6 fighter jet, the J-8 series of fighter aircraft was also mass-produced. Sun Cong, former Director of the 601 Institute, is credited with the development of the J-8 fighter jet. In the 1980s, the core focus of the institute was to develop a fighter jet with high-altitude, high-speed and an all-weather combat capabilities.[15] Substantial progress was made in the performance of the J-8 fighter only after China obtained the Russian-designed Su-27 fighter jet in 1997.[16] In fact, a production line of Su-27 was set up in China with Russia’s approval, and aircraft produced were designated as J-8 models.[17] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, China developed and produced several variants of J-7, J-8 and J-11 fighter jet based on the Russian aircraft.

In the late 1990s, the development of the J-10 fighter jet by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation was a major breakthrough in the Chinese aviation industry, as this was independently designed. Prior to this, all major fighter jets were designed and developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (Factory 112) with reference to the Soviet or Russian-made fighters. However, the J-10 fighters adopted Russian engines in the initial phase of production before China built its own engine WS-10A in 2005.[18] In the 2010s, China developed advanced fighter jets including J-15 carrier-based fighter, J-16 multirole fighter and J-20. However, the J-15 and J-16 are based on the Russian-designed aircraft namely Su-33 and Su-30MKK respectively but the J-20 stealth fighter built in 2018 is indigenous in all its aspects.

Currently, the Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) is China’s main enterprise engaged in producing essentially all of China’s military aircraft, UAVs and helicopters. It oversees 33 scientific research institutes, 9 key laboratories, 30 aviation technology laboratories, and several technology centres. Since its establishment in 1951, the AVIC has produced more than 20,000 aircraft and helicopters and more than 60,000 engines.[19] Since 2010, all major aircraft manufacturing units under AVIC have been gradually upgraded into a modular automatic aircraft assembly line that increases the production efficiency by about 30 per cent.[20]

J-Series Fighter Jets

J-2 (MiG-15)

The J-2 is the Chinese designation of Soviet-designed MiG-15 and MiG-15 BIS either supplied or produced in China in the early 1950s. During the Korean War (1950–1953), the Soviet Union supplied MiG-15s to China in two batches, 160 MiG-15s were delivered in October 1950 and 372 MiG-15s were dispatched in 1951.[21] After the Korean War, the Soviet Union sold about 1,000 MiG-15s to China in 1953. With an agreement signed with the Soviet Union in 1951, China set up an assembly line of MiG-15s.[22] However, realising the outdated nature of MiG-15s which was first-generation subsonic turbojet fighter built in late 1940s, China dismantled the assembly line of MiG-15s in October 1954.[23] Nonetheless, a large number of MiG-15s were in service with the PLA Air Force before it was phased out in 1986.[24]

J-5 (MiG-17)

The J-5 is the Chinese designation of Soviet-designed MiG-17 fighter jet.[25] The fighter was a high subsonic fighter jet for daytime interception and air combat. The J-5 used the WP-5 turbojet engine which was a copy of Soviet-designed VK-1F engine. The weapon system of J-5 included three fixed machine guns, and two 100–250 kg bombs hung under the wings. The fighter was put into mass production in September 1956 at Factory 112 in Shenyang.[26] A total of 767 J-5s were produced before its assembly line was dismantled in May 1959.[27] The first delivery of J-5s to the PLA Air Force was in late 1956. In 1964, variant J-5A with all-weather capability was developed by CAC. In the same year, export version FT-5 fighter was developed. A total of 1,061 FT-5s were produced and exported to at least 10 countries including Albania, Bangladesh, North Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zimbabwe at a unit price of 1 million yuan.[28]

J-6 (MiG-19)

The J-6 is the Chinese designation of Soviet-built MiG-19 fighter jet.[29] It is a single-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet fighter. With the agreement signed with the Soviet Union in 1958, the mass production of J-6s began at Factory 112 in Shenyang in 1960. The first delivery of J-6 to the PLAAF was in 1964. By 1981, more than 40 Regiments of the PLAAF were equipped with J-6s.[30] A small number of J-6s were in service with the PLA Navy. A total of 5,205 J-6s were produced before its assembly line was dismantled in 1983.[31] J-6s were officially phased out of PLAAF in June 2010. In the 1960s and 1970s, 780 J-6s were exported to countries including Albania, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Somalia and Tanzania.[32] Albania and Pakistan were the main importers reported to have received 167 and 253 J-6 fighters respectively. Later on, Iraq imported J-6s in the early 1990s during the Gulf War.[33]

J-7 (MiG-21F-13)

The J-7 is a copy of the Soviet-built MiG-21F-13 supersonic jet fighter.[34] It is powered by WP-7 turbojet engine with a thrust of 38.245 kN. Its armament includes a 30mm cannon and two PL-2 air-to-air missiles. Mass production of J-7 at Factory 112 in Shenyang began in 1966.[35] Shortly after, J-7s were delivered to the PLA Air Force. It was phased out of the PLA Air Force in 2006. A total of 2,400 J-7s were produced in China before its assembly line was dismantled in April 2013.[36] Export version J-7B/M was sold in large numbers to countries including Albania, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen and Zimbabwe. Pakistan and North Korea were the biggest buyers of J-7s, said to have received 173 and 134 fighters respectively.[37]

J-8

The J-8 is a twin-engine fighter with a maximum speed of 2.2 Mach.[38] It is powered by two WP-7A turbojet engines with thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.89. The J-8 has a combat radius of 2,000 kilometers and its ceiling altitude is 20,000 meters. Its armaments include a 23mm twin-barreled cannon and air-to-air missiles including PL-2, PL-5, PL-8 and PL-11. The design of the J-8 is based on the Soviet-built MiG-21F fighter, which was received by China before the political breach with the Soviet Union in 1961.[39] In 1986, China signed an agreement with the United States to seek technical assistance in improving the performance of the J-8 jet fighter.[40] The agreement was terminated in 1990 without making substantial progress in the improvement of J-8. Subsequently, in 1992, China imported 100 Su-27 jet fighters from Russia. Following the agreement signed in 1997, China set up a production line for the Su-27.[41] In the PLAAF, the Su-27 was designated as a variant of the J-8. It remained the main combat aircraft of the PLAAF from late 1980s to the early 21^st century.[42] By early 2011, PLAAF was equipped with 300 J-8 series fighter jets in six variants. Two variants of J-8 were in service with the PLA Navy.[43]

J-10

The J-10 is a single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft. It was developed based on J-9B-VI by the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Group Company Limited (CAIG).[44] The J-10 is China’s first fighter aircraft indigenously developed in 1997. However, in the initial phase of production, it used the Russian-made AL-31FN turbofan engine.[45] Later on, with the development of WS-10A engine by Shenyang Engine Design Institute in 2005, J-10s produced were equipped with WS-10A engine.[46] After 2001, several variants were developed and among them, J-10A and J-10C were the mass-produced models. J-10A can be armed with PL-8, PL-11, PL-15, YJ-8K and six 1000 lb laser-guided bombs. J-10C can carry YJ-82K anti-ship missile.[47] Among the several variants of J-10, only the J-10C is being exported to Pakistan with the first delivery of six out of 36 in March 2022.[48]

JF-17

The JF-17 is a single-engine multipurpose fighter with maximum speed of 1,249 km/h and combat radius of 1,200 km.[49] It can carry a payload of 3,600 kgs and the aircraft has a ceiling altitude of 16,000 meters.[50] Following a contract signed in June 1999, China and Pakistan made joint investment to develop the JF-17 fighter.[51] The aircraft was jointly developed by CAIG, Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation and other units under the AVIC.[52] However, the origin of JF-17 can be traced back to Fighter China (FC) aircraft programme launched in 1991. The aircraft was put into production at Factory 132 of CAC in January 2003. With the signing of an agreement in December 2003, Pakistan began licensed production of JF-17 at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamza in June 2004.[53] The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is the main user of the JF-17s. In the recent past, the JF-17s were sold to Myanmar and Nigeria. In June 2025, Azerbaijan purchased 40 JF-17s worth US$ 4.2 billion.[54]

J-11

The J-11 is the Chinese designation for Russian-made Su-27SK fighter.[55] It is a twin-engine, heavy fighter with medium- and long-range strike capability. It is equipped with WS-10 ‘Taihang’ turbofan engine. With the signing of an agreement with Russia in December 1996, China set up a production line of Su-27SK at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.[56] By 2004, China assembled 60 Su-27SK fighters. Later on, the Su-27SK was localised and designated as the J-11. Subsequently, several variants of J-11 were developed. The J-11 can be equipped with PL-8, PL-12 air-to-air missiles, YJ-91 anti-radar missiles and GPS guided bombs. In 2007, the J-11 was purely localised by replacing the Russian-made AL-31F engine with Chinese-made WS-10 engine.[57]

J-15

The J-15 is China’s first carrier-based fighter with ski-jump system built in 2009.[58] The fighter is co-developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and No. 601 Research Institute based on Soviet-made Su-33 fighter prototype T-10K-3 obtained from Ukraine.[59] The aircraft incorporates technical features of J-11B as well. The J-15 can be equipped with a wide-range of missiles including PL-8, PL-12, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, KD-88 air-to-surface missiles, YJ-83K anti-ship missiles and YJ-91 anti-radar missiles.[60] The aircraft is also equipped with 30mm internal cannon. The first delivery of J-15 to the PLA Navy was made in 2012. Subsequently, the aircraft was put into mass production in 2013. As of 2024, the PLA Navy is equipped with 22 J-15s.[61]

J-16

The J-16 is a multirole fighter based on the J-11B developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in 2011.[62] It was officially launched in early 2013. The reference model for the J-16 was the Russian-made Su-30MKK fighter bomber.[63] It is equipped with WS-10B ‘Taihang’ engine. The maximum speed of the J-16 is Mach 2 with a combat radius of 1,500 kilometers.  The weight of the J-16 aircraft with maximum load is 3,500 kg, and its ceiling altitude is 17,300 meters.[64] The J-16 can be used for air combat, ground attack and electronic warfare. It can be equipped with PL-9, PL-10, PL-12, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, YJ-62 and YJ-83 air-to-ship missiles, and can carry 12 tons of bombs.[65] It is also equipped with a fixed GSh-30-1 30mm cannon. As of 2024, the PLAAF is equipped with a total of 169 J-16 fighters.[66]

J-20

The J-20 is the first stealth fighter developed by CAIG.[67] The aircraft is equipped with twin turbofan engines. The maximum speed of the J-20 is 3,063 km/h and has a combat radius of 2,000 kms.[68] The development of the J-20 began in 1997 and the first test flight was completed in 2011. After several rounds of flight tests, the design was finalised in 2014. The first delivery of the J-20 to the PLAAF was in 2017, and large-scale deployment was in February 2018. J-20s are expected to replace the third-generation fighters including the J-10 and the J-11. The estimated cost of developing the J-20 was US$ 4.4 billion and per unit cost of the aircraft is US$ 110 million. As of 2024, 40 J-20s were inducted into the PLAAF.[69]

J-35

The J-35 is a carrier-based stealth fighter designed by AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in 2018.[70] The first test flight of the J-35 was completed in 2020. It is equipped with two WS-19 turbofan engines with a thrust of 210kN. The J-35 can be equipped with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles and YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missiles.[71] The maximum speed of the J-15 is 2.2 Mach and its combat radius is 1,350 kilometers. An improved variant J-35A was unveiled in November 2024.

Conclusion

Assistance from the Soviet Union in the 1950s was crucial in setting up the basic aircraft manufacturing infrastructure as well as in building foundational research and development of fighter jets. The political breach with the Soviet Union in 1961 turned out to be a major blow to China’s progress in development and production of fighter jets. However, over the span of the next 60 years, with the Soviet-made fighter aircraft models as the reference, China has developed research and design capabilities of fighter jets. The SAC and CAC are primarily credited with the research and development of fighter jets in China.

A major breakthrough in China’s fighter jet development was the CAC J-10 fighter jet built in 1998, which was the first indigenous aircraft powered by the Russian AL-31FN turbofan engine. The second major advancement was the first successful development of the WS-10A engine in 2005. China ultimately built its first fully indigenous stealth fighter jet J-20 in 2014 which was followed by the J-35A stealth fighter jet in 2018. The JF-17 fighter jet was developed with joint investments by China and Pakistan. Pakistan has set up the JF-17 production line also. Given that the JF-17 is gaining international market, it could help expand Pakistan’s fighter jet industry.

Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the Government of India.

[1] Rong Shiji (荣史记), “From Zero to J-20, From the Bottom to the Top of the World, The Road to Counterattack for Chinese Fighter Jets (从零到歼20，从倒数到世界一极，中国战斗机的逆袭之路)”, Baijiahao, , 16 July 2024.

[2] Ibid.

[3] “The Current Ranking of the Number of Fighter Jets in the World’s Five Countries: China’s Annual Output of Stealth Fighter Jets Shocked the World (全球五国战机数量当下排名：中国隐身战机年产量震惊世界)”, Baijiahao,  7 June 2025.

[4] Cai Xueqin, Sun Keli, Lu Te and Fu Haixin, “1949, The Birth of the People’s Air Force (1949，人民空军诞生始末)”, China Military, 11 November 2024.

[5][5] “1951: The Birth of the New China’s Aviation Industry (1951年：新中国航空工业诞生)”, China Aviation News, 13 April 2011.

[6] “Review of China’s J-series Fighters: The All-round Journey from Imitation to Independent Research and Development (盘点中国歼系战机：从仿制到自主研发的全能历程)”, Baijiahao, 7 March 2025.

[7] John W.R. Taylor, Janes All the World’s Aircraft: Development and Production- 1973-1974, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1 January  1974.

[8] Ibid.

[9] John W.R. Taylor, Janes All the World’s Aircraft: Development and Production- 1967-1968, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1 January  1967.

[10] “J-5 – China’s First Jet Fighter (歼-5-中国研制的第一种喷气战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[11] Ibid.

[12] “J-6 – China’s Supersonic Jet Fighter Developed in the 1960s (歼-6-中国20世纪60年代研制超音速喷气战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[13] “Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute-A Scientific Research Institution under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (沈阳飞机设计研究所–中国航空工业集团公司下属科研事业单位)”, Baidu, 2025.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] “From Handsome Men To Mr. Eight, Let’s Talk About My Country’s First Fully Independently Designed Fighter, The J-8Ⅱ (从美男到八爷，聊聊我国首款完全自主设计战机歼-8Ⅱ)”, Gulong Observation, 22 February 2025.

[17] Ibid.

[18] “J-10 Fighter: China’s Independently Developed Multi-functional Light Fighter (歼-10战斗机：中国自主研发的多功能轻型战斗机)”, Baidu, 24 February 2024.

[19] “Organization of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)”, China Aerospace Studies Institute of Air University, 22 January 2024.

[20] Ibid.

[21] “J-2 – Fighter Jet of the Chinese Air Force (歼-2-中国空军的战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[22] “Review of China’s J-Series Fighters: The All-Round Journey from Imitation to Independent Research and Development (盘点中国歼系战机：从仿制到自主研发的全能历程)”, Baijiahao, 7 March 2025.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] “19 July 1956-Successful Maiden Flight of China’s First Fighter Jet J-5”, Our China Story, 19 July 2024.

[26] “J-5 – China’s First Jet Fighter (歼-5-中国研制的第一种喷气战斗机)”, no. 10.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Richard Darling, “Shenyang J-6 (MiG-19) , Century Wings and Hobbymaster Next Delivery”, Flying Tigers, 11 February 2022.

[30] John W.R. Taylor, Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 1981-82, Janes, 1 January  1982.

[31] “J-6 – China’s Supersonic Jet Fighter Developed In The 1960s (歼-6-中国20世纪60年代研制超音速喷气战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Ibid.

[34] “Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG 21F-13 FISHBED-C“, National Air and Space Museum, Russia.

[35] “J-7 – China’s 1960s Jet Fighter (歼-7-中国20世纪60年代研制喷气式战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[36] “China Aviation Industry Corporation Limited – A Central Enterprise for Which the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council Performs the Duties of an Investor (中国航空工业集团有限公司–国务院国资委履行出资人职责的中央企业)”, Baidu, 2025.

[37] Ibid.

[38] “J-8 – China’s Second-Generation Fighter Developed in 1969 (歼-8-中国1969年研制第二代战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[39] Ibid.

[40] “Shenyang J-8 Fighter: A History of Evolution“, China Defense Today, 28 November 2016.

[41] “Review of China’s J-series Fighters: The All-round Journey from Imitation to Independent Research and Development (盘点中国歼系战机：从仿制到自主研发的全能历程)”, Baijiahao, 7 March 2025.

[42] Ibid.

[43] Ibid.

[44] Aravind Levakumar, Janes All the World’s Aircraft: Development & Production 2023-2024, 3 May 2023.

[45] “J-10 Fighter: China’s Independently Developed Multi-Functional Light Fighter (歼-10战斗机：中国自主研发的多功能轻型战斗机)”, Baijiahao, 24 February 2025.

[46] Ibid.

[47] “J-10A Fighter (歼-10A战斗机)”, Bronco Model.

[48] David Donald, “First Batch of Chinese J-10 Fighters Delivered to Pakistan“, AIN, , 14 March 2022.

[49] Franz-Stefan Gady, “Has Pakistan’s JF-17 ‘Thunder’ Block II Fighter Jet Engaged in its First Dogfight?“, The Diplomat, 28 February  2019.

[50] “FC-1 Fighter Jet – A Third-generation Fighter Jet Developed by China and Equipped by the Pakistani Air Force (FC-1战斗机–中国研制的巴基斯坦空军装备第三代战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[51] Yaqoob Malik, “Home-built JF-17 to be Unveiled on 23rd“, Dawn, 18 November  2009.

[52] Ibid.

[53] “Pak, China Joint Venture JF-17 Jets Roll Out from Kamra“, India Today, 23 November 2009.

[54] “JF-17 Fighter Jets are Sold Well in Azerbaijan, and the 4.2 billion Orders Show the Strength of China and Pakistan (JF-17战机大卖阿塞拜疆，42亿订单彰显中巴实力)”, Baijiahao, Henan, 3 June 2025.

[55] Maya Carlin, “J-11: The Deadly Chinese Fighter Jet with Russian DNA“, The National Interest, 19 November 2023.

[56] “J-15 – China Develops Carrier-based Fighter (歼-15-中国研制舰载战斗机)”, Baidu, 2025.

[57] Ibid.

[58] Brent M. Eastwood, “China’s J-15 Flying Shark Fighter: It Was Copied from Poor Ukraine“, 28 December 2024.

[59] Ibid.

[60] Aravind Levakumar, Janes All the World’s Aircraft: Development & Production 2023-2024,no. 44.

[61] Ibid.

[62] “China’s Top Ten Fighter Jets: The Sharp Swords Flying in the Blue Sky (中国十大战斗机：翱翔蓝天的空中利剑)”, Baijiahao, 18 February 2025.

[63] “70 Years of Chinese Fighter Jets: From Imitating MiG to Testing the Sixth-generation Aircraft, a Crushing Counterattack! (中国战机 70 年：从仿制米格到六代机试飞，碾压式逆袭！)”, Baijiahao,  6 June 2025.

[64] Paul Jackson and Lindsay Peacock, Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft: Development & Production 2020-2021, Janes, 6 May 2020.

[65] Ibid.

[66] Ibid.

[67] “J-20 – China’s Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter To Be Put Into Service in 2018 (歼-20-中国2018年列装的第五代隐形战斗机)”, Baijiahao, 2025.

[68] Aravind Levakumar, Janes All the World’s Aircraft: Development & Production 2023-2024, no. 44.

[69] Ibid.

[70] “Can the J-35 Take Off and Land Vertically? (歼-35能不能垂直起降？)”, Baijiahao, 3 April 2025.

[71] “J-35 – China’s Domestically Produced Stealth Fighter (歼-35- 中国国产隐形战斗机)”, Baijiahao, 2025.