The testing of China's new J-20 stealth fighter last month, which garnered international attention because it took place during Defense Secretary Robert Gates' visit to Beijing, was not an isolated event but the sign of something larger. There has been considered debate about the warplane's true capabilities. Is it an air superiority fighter like the U.S. F-22 or is it a penetrating bomber or maritime strike platform? And whether it is a fifth generation aircraft depends on its electronics and software, items than cannot be determined from photos. Yet, one thing is clear; the development of the J-20 well ahead of forecasts indicates China's desire to challenge American air dominance in ways not seen since the end of the Cold War. This week, the Pentagon's National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) published a study of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) predicting it will it "one of the world's foremost air forces by 2020" and is working to...(Read Full Post)