Thread by @vkthakur

Recent reports of a dual seat #J20 variant sighting, in the context of China's earlier claim that a dual seat variant is under development, confirms that the J-20's sensor fusion is subpar - otherwise there's no operational reason to put another seat! But, a dual-seat variant ...

... also suggests that China's is confident about the fighters low observability, notwithstanding the narrative in the Indian MSM based on a misinterpretation of the former CAS' remark that @IAF_MCC Su-30MKI could detect a #J20, he never claimed a Su-30MKI could engage a J-20!

To engage an adversary fighter with a missile you need a weapon grade track which the @IAF_MCC Sukhoi radar would not be able to obtain because of the J-20's LO. Adding a second seat would compromise the J-20's LO to some extent.

The fact that the Chinese are putting the second seat nevertheless suggests that the extent of the LO compromise is within acceptable limits and thereby confirms that the #J20 's LO is good to begin with, something that is obvious from the physics of the airframe shaping.

The good news is that while the @IAF_MCC may not be equipped to bring down a #J20, other than by good luck, it could exploit the #J20 's poor sensor fusion to its advantage.

For example, by putting multiple threats in the #J20 's vicinity to trap it into WVR combat. The @IAF_MCC certainly has the collective ingenuity & skilled pilots to develop tactics to counter the over hyped PLAAF stealth threat.