Satellite images from May 27 reveal that China has deployed its advanced J-20 stealth fighter jets less than 150 kilometers from the boundary with India in Sikkim. The images, reproduced with permission from All Source Analysis, a geospatial intelligence firm, show six J-20 fighters at a dual-use military and civilian airport serving Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. The airport, situated at an altitude of 12,408 feet, is one of the highest in the world. Also visible is a KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is aware of the J-20 deployment but has declined to comment. According to Sim Tack, the leading geospatial analyst at All Source Analysis, this positioning is notable as the J-20s are typically based in China’s eastern provinces. Their presence in Shigatse places them close to the Indian border, marking a significant strategic deployment.
India’s response to the J-20 includes its fleet of 36 French-built Rafale fighters, with eight currently participating in advanced air combat exercises with the United States Air Force (USAF) in Alaska. Shigatse’s proximity to Hasimara in West Bengal, where India’s second squadron of 16 Rafales is based, underscores the strategic importance of this deployment.
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Previously, the J-20 has been seen in Tibet and Xinjiang’s Hotan prefecture between 2020 and 2023, but this is believed to be the largest deployment captured by commercial satellite imagery. The Chengdu J-20, introduced in 2017, is China’s most advanced operational fighter aircraft, with some reports suggesting up to 250 units in service. Equipped with sophisticated sensors and carrying advanced air-to-air missiles like the PL-15, the J-20 serves primarily as an air superiority fighter.
Over the past five years, China has significantly enhanced its air power capacity in Tibet and other areas near India, constructing new air bases and upgrading existing infrastructure. The temporary deployment of aircraft like the J-20 and H-6 nuclear-capable bombers has also been noted. In response, India has upgraded its airbases with hardened shelters and expanded its surface-to-air missile defenses, including deploying the Russian-built S-400 long-range missile system in eastern India. The S-400 system, capable of tracking stealth platforms, aims to deter Chinese fighter operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
