Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Satellite imagery has revealed that China has deployed 11 J-20 stealth fighter jets, known as the “Mighty Dragon,” across two airbases near the Indian border, with seven jets stationed at Hotan airbase in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and four at Damxung airbase, with Hotan located roughly 389 kilometres from Leh and just 245 kilometres from the Indian Air Force’s Daulat Beg Oldie airfield.
Largest-Ever Simultaneous Deployment of J-20 Jets Near Indian Border
This marks the largest known simultaneous deployment of J-20 jets at any Chinese airbase near the Indian border to date. The J-20 is China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, considered extremely difficult to detect on radar, making the development a significant point of concern for analysts monitoring India’s security.
India’s Current Fighter Fleet Lacks Stealth Capability
Notably, the Indian Air Force’s current fleet, including the Rafale and other existing fighter jets, does not include stealth aircraft. According to sources, China positioned these fighter jets at frontline airbases near Ladakh and Tawang between June and July.
Satellite Images from Vantor Confirm Jet Positions
According to an NDTV report, satellite images captured by Vantor showed seven jets at Hotan airbase and four at Damxung airbase, located in the Lhasa region of Tibet. Damxung airbase lies just 344 kilometres northwest of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Adding to concerns for India, China’s J-20 fleet has grown significantly over the years, from approximately 50 aircraft in 2019 to around 200 by 2022, with estimates suggesting the fleet could number between 300 and 500 jets by July 2026.
