China’s J-20 Jet Powered by Domestic Engine in Service with 2nd Ace Force Unit

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force equipped a second ace force with J-20 fighters powered by domestically developed WS-10 engines.

The Military Development Vanguard Air Group originated from the Communist Party of China's (CPC) first ever aviation combat force. It made glories in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) and homeland air defense missions by shooting down 92 hostile aircraft, is now equipped with J-20 fighter jets, state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) reported citing a PLA Air Force spokesperson on Friday.

On Friday, the J-20s from the unit delivered an aerial performance together with other fighter jets including J-16s and J-10s during a PLA Air Force event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC at the former site of the old Northeast China Aviation School, CCTV reported.

This is the second ace force in the PLA Air Force that has been equipped with the country's most advanced fighter jet. In October 2019, the service announced that the J-20 was commissioned into the Wang Hai Air Group.

A military expert told the Global Times that more J-20s fitted with WS-10 engines entering service with the PLA Air Force indicate that the J-20 is becoming more and more technically mature and has started mass production.