Chengdu J-20 vs Sukhoi Su-30: Specs Compared

Chengdu J-20 — licensed reference photograph

ACombat aircraft

Chengdu J-20

Stealth air superiority fighter

Credit

N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

BCombat aircraft

Sukhoi Su-30

Multirole fighter

Credit

Alex Beltyukov · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Chengdu J-20Length

21.2 m

Length source ↗

Sukhoi Su-30Su-27PU/Su-30 · Length

21.935 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

24 of 38 rows sourced on both sides

21.2m

21.94mSu-27PU/Su-30 · Length

Length

All recorded figures & sources

21.2 m

Length

Single source

21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)^[source]

21.935 m

Su-27PU/Su-30 · Length

Single source

21.935 m (72 ft 0 in)^[source]

13.01m

14.7mSu-27PU/Su-30 · Wingspan

Wingspan

All recorded figures & sources

13.01 m

Wingspan

Single source

13.01 m (42 ft 8 in)^[source]

14.7 m

Su-27PU/Su-30 · Wingspan

Single source

14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)^[source]

4.69m

6.36mSu-27PU/Su-30 · Height

Height

All recorded figures & sources

4.69 m

Height

Single source

4.69 m (15 ft 5 in)^[source]

6.36 m

Su-27PU/Su-30 · Height

Single source

6.36 m (20 ft 10 in)^[source]

37tMaximum take-off; Max takeoff weight

34.5t

MassScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

17,000 kg

Empty; Empty weight

Single source

25,000 kg

Gross; Gross weight

Single source

37,000 kg

Maximum take-off; Max takeoff weight

Single source

17,000 kg (37,479 lb)^[source]

25,000 kg (55,116 lb)^[source]

37,000 kg (81,571 lb)^[source]

17,700 kg

Empty; Su-27PU/Su-30 · Empty weight

Single source

24,900 kg

Gross; Su-27PU/Su-30 · Gross weight

Single source

34,500 kg

Maximum take-off; Su-27PU/Su-30 · Max takeoff weight

Single source

17,700 kg (39,022 lb)^[source]

24,900 kg (54,895 lb)^[source]

34,500 kg (76,059 lb)^[source]

one (pilot)

2Su-27PU/Su-30 · Crew

Crew

All recorded figures & sources

one (pilot)^[source]

2 people

Su-27PU/Su-30 · Crew

Single source

2^[source]

2,130km/hMaximum; Mach 2.0 at altitude

2,120km/h

SpeedScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

2,130 km/h

Maximum; Mach 2.0 at altitude

Single source

Mach 2.0, 2,130 km/h (1,320 mph) at altitude^[source]

2,120 km/h

Maximum; Su-27PU/Su-30 · at high altitude

Single source

2,120 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,140 kn) at high altitude^[source]

5,500kmwith 2 external fuel tanks

3,000kmSu-27PU/Su-30 · at high altitude

RangeScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

5,500 km

with 2 external fuel tanks

Single source

5,500 km (3,400 mi, 3,000 nmi) with 2 external fuel tanks^[source]

3,000 km

Su-27PU/Su-30 · at high altitude

Single source

3,000 km (1,900 mi, 1,600 nmi) at high altitude^[source]

2,000kmCombat range

—

Combat radius

All recorded figures & sources

2,000 km

Combat range

Single source

2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi)^[source]

142–147kN

123kNSu-27PU/Su-30 · with afterburner

ThrustScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

142–147 kN

2 × Shenyang WS-10C afterburning turbofan with afterburner

Single source

2 × Shenyang WS-10C afterburning turbofan , 142–147 kN (32,000–33,000 lbf) with afterburner^[source]

74.5 kN

Su-27PU/Su-30 · 2 × Saturn AL-31FL /FP Afterburning turbofan engines thrust each dry

Single source

122.58 kN

Su-27PU/Su-30 · with afterburner

Single source

2 × Saturn AL-31FL /FP Afterburning turbofan engines, 74.5 kN (16,700 lbf) thrust each dry, 122.58 kN (27,560 lbf) with afterburner^[source]

73m²

62m²Su-27PU/Su-30 · Wing area

Wing area

All recorded figures & sources

73 m²

Wing area

Single source

73 m 2 (790 sq ft)^[source]

62 m²

Su-27PU/Su-30 · Wing area

Single source

62 m 2 (670 sq ft)^[source]

20,000m

17,300mSu-27PU/Su-30 · Service ceiling

Service ceiling

All recorded figures & sources

20,000 m

Service ceiling

Single source

20,000 m (66,000 ft)^[source]

17,300 m

Su-27PU/Su-30 · Service ceiling

Single source

17,300 m (56,800 ft)^[source]

304m/s59,800 ft/min

230m/sSu-27PU/Su-30 · 45,000 ft/min

Rate of climbScopes differ

All recorded figures & sources

304 m/s

59,800 ft/min

Single source

304 m/s (59,800 ft/min)^[source]

230 m/s

Su-27PU/Su-30 · 45,000 ft/min

Single source

230 m/s (45,000 ft/min)^[source]

Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.

Configuration

Details

Chengdu J-20 and Sukhoi Su-30 configuration
Specification	Chengdu J-20	Sukhoi Su-30
Type	Stealth air superiority fighter^[source]	Multirole fighter^[source]
National origin	China^[source]	Soviet Union Russia^[source]
Manufacturer	Chengdu Aircraft Corporation^[source]	Sukhoi, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, Yakovlev Corporation^[source]
Status	In service^[source]	In service^[source]
Primary user	People's Liberation Army Air Force^[source]	—
Number built	500 (As of mid-2026)^[source]	630+ (as of 2019 )^[source]
Manufactured	2009–present^[source]	1992–present^[source]
Introduction date	8 March 2017 (J-20) 3 September 2025 (J-20A/J-20S)^[source]	1992 (Su-30) 2013 (Su-30SM)^[source]
First flight	11 January 2011; 15 years ago^[source]	31 December 1989 ( 1989-12-31 )^[source]
Developed from	J-XX^[source]	Sukhoi Su-27^[source]
Fuel capacity	12,000 kg (26,000 lb) internally^[source]	9,400 kg (20,723 lb) internal^[source]
g limits	+9/-3^[source]	+ 9^[source]
Wing loading	340 kg/m 2 (69 lb/sq ft)^[source]	401 kg/m 2 (82 lb/sq ft) with 56% fuel^[source]
Maximum weapon capacity	11,000 kg (24,000 lb)^[source]	—
Internal weapon bays	PL-10 short-range AAM PL-12 medium-range AAM PL-15 long-range AAM PL-16 long-range AAM (In development, to be integrated) PL-21 very-long-range AAM (In development, to be integrated) LS-6/50 and LS6/100 small-diameter PGB (intended) FT-7 small-diameter PGB (intended) CS/BBM2 small-diameter PGB (intended) CM-506KG small-diameter PGB (intended)^[source]	—
External hardpoints	PL-15 long-range AAM PL-17 very-long-range AAM 4× under-wing pylon capable of carrying drop tanks .^[source]	—
Hardpoints	The wings include four hardpoints for auxiliary fuel tanks to extend the ferrying range and launch racks to carry weapons, such as the PL-15 and PL-17 .^[source]External wing hardpoints	12 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 8,000 kg (18,000 lb), with provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: S-8 KOM/BM/OM S-13 T/OF S-25 OFM-PU Missiles: Air-to-air missiles : R-27 R/ER/T/ET/P/EA R-73 E/M RVV-AE (R-77)-1/M R-37M (on the SM2 variant) Air-to-surface missiles : Kh-29 TE/L Kh-59 M/ME Anti-ship missiles : Kh-31 A Anti-radiation missiles : Kh-31 P Bombs: KAB-500KR general-purpose bomb KAB-500OD bomb KAB-1500KR GP bomb KAB-1500L laser-guided bomb FAB-500T GP bomb BETAB-500 SHP bomb ODAB-500PM bomb OFAB-250-270 bomb OFAB-100-120 bomb P-50T bomb RBK-500 cluster bombs SPBE-D bomb^[source]
Designer	—	Sukhoi^[source]
Built by	—	KnAAPO Irkut Corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (built by HAL in India under license)^[source]
Primary users	—	Russian Aerospace Forces Indian Air Force People's Liberation Army Air Force Algerian Air Force^[source]
Variants	—	Sukhoi Su-30MKI Sukhoi Su-30MKK Sukhoi Su-30MKM Sukhoi Su-30MKA^[source]
Guns	—	1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon with 150 rounds^[source]
Thrust/weight	—	1 with 56% fuel^[source]
Rockets	—	S-8 KOM/BM/OM S-13 T/OF S-25 OFM-PU^[source]
Missiles	—	Air-to-air missiles : R-27 R/ER/T/ET/P/EA R-73 E/M RVV-AE (R-77)-1/M R-37M (on the SM2 variant) Air-to-surface missiles : Kh-29 TE/L Kh-59 M/ME Anti-ship missiles : Kh-31 A Anti-radiation missiles : Kh-31 P^[source]
Bombs	—	KAB-500KR general-purpose bomb KAB-500OD bomb KAB-1500KR GP bomb KAB-1500L laser-guided bomb FAB-500T GP bomb BETAB-500 SHP bomb ODAB-500PM bomb OFAB-250-270 bomb OFAB-100-120 bomb P-50T bomb RBK-500 cluster bombs SPBE-D bomb^[source]

FORCETALLY

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Chengdu J-20

Sukhoi Su-30

Type

Stealth air superiority fighter^[source]

Multirole fighter^[source]

National origin

China^[source]

Soviet Union Russia^[source]

Manufacturer

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation^[source]

Sukhoi, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, Yakovlev Corporation^[source]

Status

In service^[source]

Primary user

People's Liberation Army Air Force^[source]

—

Number built

500 (As of mid-2026)^[source]

630+ (as of 2019 )^[source]

Manufactured

2009–present^[source]

1992–present^[source]

Introduction date

8 March 2017 (J-20) 3 September 2025 (J-20A/J-20S)^[source]

1992 (Su-30) 2013 (Su-30SM)^[source]

First flight

11 January 2011; 15 years ago^[source]

31 December 1989 ( 1989-12-31 )^[source]

Developed from

J-XX^[source]

Sukhoi Su-27^[source]

Fuel capacity

12,000 kg (26,000 lb) internally^[source]

9,400 kg (20,723 lb) internal^[source]

g limits

+9/-3^[source]

+ 9^[source]

Wing loading

340 kg/m 2 (69 lb/sq ft)^[source]

401 kg/m 2 (82 lb/sq ft) with 56% fuel^[source]

Maximum weapon capacity

11,000 kg (24,000 lb)^[source]

—

Internal weapon bays

PL-10 short-range AAM PL-12 medium-range AAM PL-15 long-range AAM PL-16 long-range AAM (In development, to be integrated) PL-21 very-long-range AAM (In development, to be integrated) LS-6/50 and LS6/100 small-diameter PGB (intended) FT-7 small-diameter PGB (intended) CS/BBM2 small-diameter PGB (intended) CM-506KG small-diameter PGB (intended)^[source]

—

External hardpoints

PL-15 long-range AAM PL-17 very-long-range AAM 4× under-wing pylon capable of carrying drop tanks .^[source]

—

Hardpoints

The wings include four hardpoints for auxiliary fuel tanks to extend the ferrying range and launch racks to carry weapons, such as the PL-15 and PL-17 .^[source]External wing hardpoints

12 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 8,000 kg (18,000 lb), with provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: S-8 KOM/BM/OM S-13 T/OF S-25 OFM-PU Missiles: Air-to-air missiles : R-27 R/ER/T/ET/P/EA R-73 E/M RVV-AE (R-77)-1/M R-37M (on the SM2 variant) Air-to-surface missiles : Kh-29 TE/L Kh-59 M/ME Anti-ship missiles : Kh-31 A Anti-radiation missiles : Kh-31 P Bombs: KAB-500KR general-purpose bomb KAB-500OD bomb KAB-1500KR GP bomb KAB-1500L laser-guided bomb FAB-500T GP bomb BETAB-500 SHP bomb ODAB-500PM bomb OFAB-250-270 bomb OFAB-100-120 bomb P-50T bomb RBK-500 cluster bombs SPBE-D bomb^[source]

Designer

—

Sukhoi^[source]

Built by

—

KnAAPO Irkut Corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (built by HAL in India under license)^[source]

Primary users

—

Russian Aerospace Forces Indian Air Force People's Liberation Army Air Force Algerian Air Force^[source]

Variants

—

Sukhoi Su-30MKI Sukhoi Su-30MKK Sukhoi Su-30MKM Sukhoi Su-30MKA^[source]

Guns

—

1 × 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 autocannon with 150 rounds^[source]

Thrust/weight

—

1 with 56% fuel^[source]

Rockets

—

S-8 KOM/BM/OM S-13 T/OF S-25 OFM-PU^[source]

Missiles

—

Air-to-air missiles : R-27 R/ER/T/ET/P/EA R-73 E/M RVV-AE (R-77)-1/M R-37M (on the SM2 variant) Air-to-surface missiles : Kh-29 TE/L Kh-59 M/ME Anti-ship missiles : Kh-31 A Anti-radiation missiles : Kh-31 P^[source]

Bombs

—

KAB-500KR general-purpose bomb KAB-500OD bomb KAB-1500KR GP bomb KAB-1500L laser-guided bomb FAB-500T GP bomb BETAB-500 SHP bomb ODAB-500PM bomb OFAB-250-270 bomb OFAB-100-120 bomb P-50T bomb RBK-500 cluster bombs SPBE-D bomb^[source]