29 July 2026 12:44 (UTC+04:00)Akbar Novruz Read moreChina has increased the operational deployment of its frontline J-20 "Mighty Dragon" stealth fighter jets at airbases near the Indian border, according to newly released satellite imagery, AzerNEWS reports citing NDTV. The images, sourced from Vantor and published by NDTV, show 11 J-20 fifth-generation fighter jets stationed across two strategic airbases in late June and early July, marking what analysts describe as China's largest known concentration of the aircraft opposite India. Satellite imagery dated July 9 shows seven J-20s parked at Hotan Air Base in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The dual-use military and civilian facility is located about 389 kilometers northeast of Leh and 245 kilometers from the Indian Air Force's Daulat Beg Oldie airfield in northern Ladakh. What makes the deployment of the J-20 significant are its stealth characteristics which enable it to dominate contested airspace.