China J-20 Fighter Production 2030: 1,000 Stealth Jets to Reshape Pacific Power

By 2030, a thousand stealth ghosts could haunt the Pacific skies. China is on track to operate approximately 1,000 units of the J-20 fifth-generation fighter jet, directly challenging the air superiority long held by the US and its allies.

China J-20 Fighter Production 2030: A Looming Quantitative Shift

According to a report released this month by the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), there's been a "dramatic increase" in China's capacity to contest Western air power over the last five years. The think tank highlights the surge in production of "modern and highly capable" fighters, specifically the J-20, as a primary factor in this shift.

Threatening the First Island Chain

The sheer scale of this deployment poses a significant threat to power projection near the first island chain. Experts at RUSI suggest that China's ability to mass-produce advanced hardware could erode the qualitative edge the US has relied upon for decades. This massive fleet isn't just about numbers; it's about denying access to strategic regions during potential conflicts.