Largest J-20 formation ever seen publicly has intel agencies buzzing...

via Global Times

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force for the first time showcased seven J-20 stealth fighter jets, the largest J-20 formation ever publicly shown, on Tuesday, leading experts to say China's military is already operating a considerable number of J-20s, which could achieve regional aerial superiority and destroy the enemy's strategic facilities deep in hostile territory.

In a video released by the PLA Air Force on social media on Tuesday, which was also the 74th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), as many as seven J-20s can be seen flying in formation.

The number of J-20s flying in formation has gradually increased from two to five, and now seven, since China's most advanced fighter jet made its first public appearance at Airshow China in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, which was held in November 2016.

Each increase in the number of J-20s has attracted considerable attention from military enthusiasts, Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that it reflects the scale and level at which the PLA Air Force is operating its fighter jet.

"A considerable number of units are probably ready to fly the J-20," Wang said.

Meanwhile, the PLA Air Force has not disclosed the total number of J-20s at its disposal.

"If seven J-20s are sent simultaneously into battle, they would have a significant striking capability with their air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons," Wang said.

Story and vid here. 

Interesting.  I guess the marker has been tossed.  Our air power should be focused on defeating the J-20.  This is obviously lynchpin of Chinese air power into the future.

What concerns?

The F-22.

I'm sure it can handle the J-20.  I believe we have capable pilots.  But we have so few of them and I still don't believe the F-35 can hold up under the onslaught of the J-20.

EVEN IF every upgrade is applied to the F-35 in a timely manner (assuming that past performance is NOT indicative of future results) I still believe that it will come up short against this beast.

Additionally our worldwide commitments are concerning.  500 J-20's in the Pacific against 1.5K F-35s deployed worldwide just ain't gonna cut it.

They'll still have regional superiority while we're defending against phantom threats in Europe, chasing mid/small powers in the Middle East and heading on a new terrorist bug hunt in Africa.

We need to modernize our air power (with a looming recession coming down the pike while rationalizing our foreign policy.

We got much work to do and little time.

Side note.  Developing new aircraft is too hard a lift in the time I believe we have.  The answer to regaining our margin in air power is to develop new missiles, lasers, countermeasures etc...the hole we dug in 20 years of terror campaigns is deep.  Realigning to meet the new threat is gonna be hard.