The J-20 'Fagin' (also known as the Mighty Dragon or Black Eagle) is China's first indigenously-designed fifth-generation stealth fighter and the first non-US stealth aircraft to enter service anywhere in the world. The J-20 features a long fuselage built with composite materials, delta wings and, in contrast to the F-22 and Su-57, all-moving canards which help improve maneuverability and greater control at high angles of attack. Like its peers, it has one large under-fuselage weapons bay which can carry both air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions along with two smaller lateral bays for short-range AAMs. However, it does not feature an internal cannon. Avionics data remains classified but it is believed to incorporate a KLJ-5 AESA radar as well as electro-optical and infrared sensors, and under the nose is an integrated targeting pod similar to that on the F-35. Various engines have been tested on the J-20 with more recent versions claimed to be capable of supercruise and thrust-vectoring. Although the J-20 benefits from diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), there are questions over the stealthiness of its exhausts, which suggest that its low observability is mostly achieved from the front. Nevertheless, independent analysis has suggested that it is stealthier than the Su-57 even though it is still some ways behind the F-22 and F-35. Despite these limitations, the J-20 is seen as a major increase in Chinese air capability and representing a credible threat to its potential rivals. Perhaps more importantly, it represents the moment in which Chinese aircraft technology is on equal footing with, or possibly surpassed, its Russian partner which it had hitherto depended on.

The prototype of the J-20, whose design was led by Yang Wei, made its maiden flight on 11 January 2011 with low-rate initial production of the J-20A beginning in 2015. The improved J-20B features thrust-vectoring and supercruise capability thanks to its WS-15 engine. A two-seater version known as the J-20S is also in development and is believed to be optimized for airborne early warning or to coordinate operations with unmanned aircraft.