Timeline
8 events · 2011–2023
Every event is drawn from the entries’ own development histories — a view of the content, not a second dataset. Click a designation to open its entry.
2010s
First flight
Flew at Chengdu during a visit to China by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, drawing wide attention.
First public appearance at Zhuhai
Two aircraft made a brief flying display — the first close public observation.
Service entry confirmed
Lead ship launched
Assigned to combat units
2020s
Lead ship commissioned
Nanchang entered service.
Two-seat J-20S revealed
A two-seat configuration appeared for the first time, widely associated with manned-unmanned teaming.
Eighth hull launched
Eight hulls within a few years of the lead ship — the build rate being this class's substantive significance.