Pentagon Chief: China Lags U.S. on Stealth Jet
WASHINGTON - The United States will retain a far bigger fleet of top-end fighter planes than China for years to come despite Beijing's early test of a Stealth jet which has stoked concern over its military buildup, the U.S. defense chief said Thursday.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates told lawmakers that China faces a "long road" before deploying its J-20 Stealth fighter in any numbers, and predicted a continuing "huge disparity" compared with America's fleet of low-observable aircraft.
China test flew the J-20 as Gates visited Beijing in January. Gates said that was between half and one year earlier than U.S. intelligence estimates, but played down its significance, saying the U.S. would retain far more "fifth generation" fighter jets than China for years.
"There's still a huge disparity in terms of these aircraft," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "This is their first low-observable aircraft and given the challenges we have had, and we have been at his for more than 20 years, they have a long road in front of them before this becomes a serious operational aircraft in any numbers."
He said China may have 50 of the aircraft deployed by 2020, and a couple of hundred by 2025.
Despite rolling back acquisition of top-end F-35 jets for five years as part of budget cuts, Gates said the U.S. will still have 325 F-35 jets by the end of 2016, and in addition to its F-22 jets, would have in all about 850 fifth generation aircraft by 2020.
He predicted the number would rise to 1,500 by 2025.
His comments appeared designed to tamp down concern over China's military buildup which has caused unease among its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific, with whom it has territorial disputes. China's buildup has also raised questions about how long the U.S. can retain its military predominance in the region, which Washington views as vital for stability and policing sea lanes vital for international trade.
China has also developed an arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles, including one designed to target an aircraft carrier, and is increasing its naval and submarine fleet — moves that could potentially constrain U.S. operations in waters of the west Pacific.