China’s J-20 has dropped its stealth features, now seen in ‘Beast Mode’ with PL-15 missiles, similar to the F-35 and Su-57

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) seems to be enhancing the firepower and combat capabilities of the J-20 stealth fighter. Recent images reveal the aircraft, known as the Mighty Dragon, in a configuration referred to as ‘beast mode,’ equipped with external PL-15 air-to-air missiles. This modification, however, compromises some of the aircraft’s stealth characteristics.

This development follows sightings of U.S. F-35 and Russian Su-57 aircraft also carrying missiles externally. For more details on the Su-57, further information is available.

A recent video shared on social media shows a J-20 in flight, reportedly armed with eight PL-15 medium-to-long-range air-to-air missiles. The missiles were displayed in pairs on four underwing pylons, while additional missiles were housed internally within the main weapons bay.

Rupprecht Dieno, a PLA observer, noted on social media that a similar image had circulated in December 2024, suggesting that this may not be the first instance of the J-20 operating in “beast mode.”

Additionally, another PLA analyst known as ‘Hurin’ shared a photo of a different J-20, claiming it was equipped with 14 to 16 PL-15 air-to-air missiles.

The J-20 features three internal weapons bays: one located in the underbelly and one on each side of the engines. Previously, it was capable of carrying four PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles in the main bay and one PL-10 short-range missile in each of the side bays.

In recent years, China has been actively seeking to increase the internal payload capacity of the J-20, while also working on the development of new, longer-range air-to-air missiles designed for external mounting.

At the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024, the PL-15E missile was introduced, featuring a compact, foldable fin design that allows the J-20 to carry six of these missiles in its main weapons bay, compared to only four of the standard PL-15 missiles.

According to the EurAsian Times, the PL-15E was developed to enhance the long-range combat capabilities of Chinese fighter jets, thereby boosting their firepower without compromising stealth.

This design modification is thought to have been influenced by the AMRAAM’s smaller fins, which enable four missiles to fit within the F-35’s internal weapon bay. However, recent images have shown the J-20 equipped with PL-15 missiles mounted externally.

Stealth aircraft like the J-20 typically utilize an internal weapons bay to hide their armaments, minimizing radar visibility and enhancing aerodynamic performance. While equipping an aircraft with external long-range air-to-air missiles—often referred to as “beast mode”—increases its firepower, it significantly diminishes its stealth capabilities.

As noted by retired Indian Air Force Air Marshal Anil Chopra, the capacity for stealth platforms to carry a greater number of weapons internally is crucial for contemporary air forces, as dominance in aerospace equates to global control.

The J-20’s stealth technology enables it to target adversaries, avoid detection, and penetrate contested airspace to achieve air superiority, although this stealth advantage limits its overall weapon-carrying capacity.

The J-20’s deployment in a full beast mode aligns with China’s broader strategy to bolster the aircraft’s combat capabilities in response to the increasing threat of regional conflict. In this configuration, the J-20 can carry three to four times the number of long-range missiles compared to its stealth mode.

Additionally, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) can effectively utilize both beast-mode and standard stealth J-20s in combat scenarios. For example, stealth-configured J-20s could lead an engagement, supported by beast-mode J-20s, when entering hostile airspace or engaging in aerial confrontations.

China is not the only nation employing its stealth fighters in a beast mode. The United States Air Force’s fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II has also been seen equipped with a full array of weapons and increased payload on external hard points to enhance its offensive capabilities against potential threats.

However, the J-20 boasts a greater payload capacity than the F-35. Defense analyst Kris Osborn noted that the J-20 can operate with a “bomb-truck” capacity, allowing it to deliver more ordnance than the F-35 in a single mission, with a maximum takeoff weight of 27,998 pounds of internal and external munitions, compared to the F-35’s 18,000 pounds in beast mode.

Given the rising tensions in critical areas of the Indo-Pacific, particularly the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, the likelihood of conflict between the US and China has increased. Consequently, both nations are ramping up their military readiness and firepower.

China’s Long-Range AAM Fleet Is Growing

The external deployment of the PL-15 AAM is noteworthy, as it was previously thought that the larger PL-16 and PL-17 missiles would be the ones carried externally on aircraft due to their size.

The Chinese PL-15 missile is frequently likened to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM.

The PL-15 is an active radar-guided long-range air-to-air missile that utilizes a dual pulsed solid-propellant rocket and features an AESA radar. It is recognized for its combination of speed and agility, with an operational range estimated between 200 to 300 kilometers. This missile is compatible with the J-20 and has also been approved for use on the J-10C, J-15, J-16, J-11B, and JF-17 Block-III.

The U.S. Air Force has previously acknowledged that the initiation of the AIM-260 program—aimed at creating a new air-to-air missile with a range exceeding that of the AIM-120 AMRAAM—was significantly motivated by the emergence of the PL-15.

Moreover, earlier reports suggested that the People’s Liberation Army was working on a very long-range missile known as the PL-17, which is believed to be an active radar-guided, very long-range air-to-air missile (VLRAAM) with a claimed range of 400 kilometers.

This range is more than double that of the U.S. military’s current longest-range air-to-air weapon, the AIM-120D, and is designed to engage larger targets such as Flight Refueling Aircraft (FRA) and Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.

The PLAAF is currently developing the PL-21 long-range missile, which is designed to compete with the American AIM-260 JATM and the Russian R-37M. This missile is projected to have a range of approximately 300-400 kilometers.

In a previous article for EurAsian Times, Indian Air Force veteran Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd) noted, “Since the Gulf War, China has focused on achieving parity with US military capabilities. The country’s military strategy highlights the importance of air power for maritime defense, especially in regions like the South China Sea. Although it still trails in terms of fighter aircraft, it has made significant advancements in air-to-air missiles (AAMs).”

At this point, it remains uncertain whether the J-20 in its beast mode configuration has been fully operationalized within the PLAAF or if it is still undergoing development.