At a press conference, Lieutenant General Yu Qingjiang, vice commander of the PLA Air Force, revealed that newly developed warplanes will be making their first public appearance during flight demonstrations at the 15th Airshow China, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, from Nov. 12 to 17. These planes will highlight their abilities in long-range strategic missions and air combat.
A variety of new equipment will also be on static display for the first time, showing the PLA Air Force’s capabilities in areas like air combat, strikes, unmanned and anti-unmanned warfare, strategic transport, airdropping, early warning systems, and air defense, according to Yu.
"Our aim is to display the Air Force's confidence and strength in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while promoting our commitment to peace, cooperation, and open communication," Yu said.
While many enthusiasts are eager to see China's H-20 stealth bomber, Fu said it’s not yet ready for public unveiling. Instead, we might see other advanced aircraft, such as a medium-sized stealth fighter based on the FC-31, unmanned stealth drones, special mission aircraft, and updated versions of existing planes like the Y-20, now powered by domestically developed engines.
Other PLA branches, including the Army and Navy, will also display equipment at the airshow, Yu mentioned.
A recent China Central Television documentary aired in mid-September hinted at the testing of a new aircraft aboard the PLA Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier. Media speculated that this could be the long-awaited J-35, a carrier-based stealth fighter also derived from the FC-31.
Fu noted that an earlier version of the FC-31 was shown at previous airshows, and it will be intriguing to see if new versions make their debut this year. Reports have suggested that the FC-31 might evolve into different variants, including both carrier-based and land-based models.
This year's event marks the first time the PLA Army, Navy, and Air Force will all participate together, making it one of the most anticipated airshows worldwide, Fu said.
