Is China able to produce stealth jets on par with the F-22 or F-35?

China's Advance in Stealth Fighter Technology: How Close Are They to the U.S.?

There was a time when China was light years behind the United States when it came to fighter jet technology. The U.S. dominated the skies with leading-edge aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. Meanwhile, China depended on old, legacy platforms that were no match.

But not for long.

China progressed rapidly with a focused plan. The initial significant achievement was the J-20 — a big, fast, radar-evading stealth fighter. Designed to shoot down fighters such as the F-22, the J-20 has sophisticated missiles carried internally and can engage targets before being detected itself. Next was the FC-31, a smaller, more maneuverable aircraft commonly thought to be China's equivalent to the F-35. It's a carrier design, providing China with a stealthy naval airpower capability.

So, the question on everyone's mind:

Are Chinese jets now equivalent to American jets?

Not yet — but they're getting there. And that's no small accomplishment.

What are they still lacking?

Mostly two things: engines and computing systems.

American fighters have the advantage of decades of experience in developing dependable, high-thrust engines and sophisticated combat-tested avionics. China, although rising impressively, still lags behind in these key areas. Their aircraft are stealthy and powerful, but the internal technology — particularly in real-time targeting, networking, and long-duration engine performance — is still short of American levels.

Bottom line:

China's advancement is legitimate and inescapable. They've constructed stealth fighters that command respect. But if a full-scale war broke out today, those few missing parts might prove crucial.

Because in today's air warfare, being 90% prepared just isn't sufficient.