The images, shared by All Source Analysis, show six J-20 fighters at the Shigatse dual-use airportSatellite images taken recently show several J-20s, China's most advanced stealth fighter, stationed at a key high-altitude Tibetan air base located less than 150 kilometres from India's boundary in Sikkim.
The images, shared by All Source Analysis, show six J-20 fighters at the Shigatse dual-use airport.
The J-20 aircraft are not known to be permanently based at Shigatse and deploments near the Indian border are a rare occurrence," said All Source Analysis, which looks at geospatial intelligence.
The J-20 stealth fighter is China's most advanced operational fighter aircraft to date, and these aircraft are predominantly based in the eastern provinces of China, an NDTV report quoted Sim Tack, a geospatial analyst with All Source Analysis, as saying.
Notably, Shigatse, where the Chinese stealth fighters have been spotted, is within 300 kilometres from the Indian Air Force's base in Hasimara in Bengal, where India bases it second squadron of 16 Rafales.
The images, shared by All Source Analysis, show six J-20 fighters at the Shigatse dual-use airport
Satellite images taken recently show several J-20s, China's most advanced stealth fighter, stationed at a key high-altitude Tibetan air base located less than 150 kilometres from India's boundary in Sikkim.
The images, shared by All Source Analysis, show six J-20 fighters at the Shigatse dual-use airport. Located at a height of about 12,500 feet, this airport stands among the world's highest.
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"Multiple (satellite) images collected over the course of the same day indicate these aircrafts (J-20s) arrived at the air base on May 27, preceded by the arrival of a Y-20 transport aircraft for the probable deployment of ground crew and support equipment. The J-20 aircraft are not known to be permanently based at Shigatse and deploments near the Indian border are a rare occurrence," said All Source Analysis, which looks at geospatial intelligence.
The J-20 stealth fighter is China's most advanced operational fighter aircraft to date, and these aircraft are predominantly based in the eastern provinces of China, an NDTV report quoted Sim Tack, a geospatial analyst with All Source Analysis, as saying. "Seeing these aircraft appear at Shigatse in Tibet positions them on a deployment outside of their normal areas of operations and within proximity of the Indian border," the analyst added further.
While this isn't the first time that the J-20 has been deployed in Tibet, it is believed to be the largest one so far as spotted by commercially available satellite imagery.
Notably, Shigatse, where the Chinese stealth fighters have been spotted, is within 300 kilometres from the Indian Air Force's base in Hasimara in Bengal, where India bases it second squadron of 16 Rafales.
