A newly surfaced image shows the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter carrying eight external air-to-air missiles, a configuration commonly referred to as “beast mode”.
Let’s explain it once again: “Beast Mode” is not an official nor technical term; it’s just a common way a configuration of the F-35 Lightning aircraft, involving external (along with internal) loads has been dubbed. Although many other aircraft types can carry an impressive amount of external weapons many have started to call any configuration involving external loads either “Beast Mode” or “Bomb Truck”.
Another way of calling a non-stealth configuration because of the external carriage is also known as a “Third Day of War” loadout: as opposed to a “First Day of War” loadout, in which a stealth fighter would carry weapons internally to maintain its LO (Low Observability), the configuration with external stores is expected to be used from the third day of an air campaign when, theoretically, enemy air defense assets (including sensors, air defense missile and gun systems and enemy aircraft) have been degraded by airstrikes (conducted by other aircraft as well as stealth jets in “Stealth Mode”) and the battlespace has become more permissive: in such a scenario, the F-35 (or any other radar-evading aircraft) would no longer need to rely on stealthiness for survivability so it could shift to carrying weapons on the wing pylons.
That being said, a recent video captured a J-20 Mighty Dragon in flight, in “Beast Mode”, carrying what appear to be eight PL-15 medium-to-long-range air-to-air missiles mounted in pairs on four underwing pylons. The footage follows an earlier screen grab that circulated in late 2023, which had initially raised questions regarding its authenticity.
I think we have seen this image in a smaller version already in December (second image), but now an ever clearer, larger version and a video was leaked showing a J-20 in “beast mode” carrying what appears to be 8x PL-15 (?) AAMs.
(Image via @人畜无害遥感星 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/hlwI5MCiFO
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) February 10, 2025
The presence of underwing hardpoints on the J-20 is no surprise. The aircraft has previously been seen carrying four large external fuel tanks, an indication that its design accommodates external stores. When those images first appeared, the possibility of weapons being carried on these stations was a logical assumption.
Here an attempt to post a video of the video 😆 pic.twitter.com/EYB0rnB9q2
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— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) February 10, 2025
Beyond Internal Carriage
China has been actively working on the still much secretive PL-17, an ultra-long-range air-to-air missile that exceeds the dimensions of the J-20’s internal weapons bay, making external carriage a necessity. However, the new footage suggests that, for now, the aircraft is making use of additional PL-15s in its external loadout. The PL-15, China’s go-to medium-to-long-range air-to-air missile, reportedly boasts a range of up to 124 miles. In standard configuration, the J-20 carries four of these missiles internally, supplemented by two short-range PL-10s housed in the fighter’s distinctive side-mounted bays.
To those unfamiliar:
PL-10 is a HOBS ImIR guided SRAAM. True range unknown, but export range is 20km. On J-20 is likely paired with known HMDS.
PL-15 is BVRAAM, likely w/ dual pulse motor (greater range+end game pK) with possible AESA seeker. Range thought to approach 200km. pic.twitter.com/uUM9LqGX7h
— Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) November 11, 2018
While the video does not provide a view of the aircraft’s internal weapons bays, the possibility of a total loadout of 12 PL-15s (plus two PL-10s) is significant in terms of capabilities. The tradeoff, of course, is (as discussed above) the degradation of the J-20’s low-observable characteristics.
Interestingly, such a configuration would equal the one of the F-15EX, that can currently carry 12 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, as shown for the first time in public at airshows across the world last year. Dealing with the F-35, the air-to-air “Beast Mode” advertised by Lockheed Martin in 2019 saw a load-out made of a whopping 14 AIM-120 AMRAAMs and a pair of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, a configuration that could only be achieved if the internal weapon bays capacity was brought to 6 AIM-120s instead of the current 4 AMRAAMs.
How the “Beast Mode” Could Be Integrated Into J-20 Operations
Just like any other Western stealth aircraft, a likely operational scenario would see the J-20s carrying only internal weapons, operating in conjunction with J-20s in “beast mode.” Similarly to what would be done by the F-35 teaming with other 5th or 4th generation aircraft, the forward stealth aircraft could locate and engage threats while calling on the missile-heavy jets behind them to provide additional firepower. This force-multiplier approach would offset the J-20’s relatively limited internal weapon capacity without compromising the entire formation’s survivability.
Similarly, a heavily armed J-20 could act as an aerial arsenal for other tactical aircraft, including China’s forthcoming J-35 stealth fighter. Additionally, China’s Flanker-derived airframes, such as the J-16, could benefit from working in tandem with J-20s, leveraging both stealth and firepower in a coordinated manner.
A New Chapter In The J-20’s Evolution
What remains uncertain is whether this external missile configuration is an operational loadout or part of ongoing weapons trials. Given China’s continued focus on developing air-to-air combat capabilities, it seems likely that more details will emerge in the near future. At the same time, this new revelation raises the possibility of further external weapons configurations beyond air-to-air missiles, potentially expanding the J-20’s mission set in future engagements.
