AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 vs Dassault Aviation Rafale F4
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 are both fighter aircraft, compared here on public specifications. The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 leads on weapons payload (11,000 vs 9,500 kg). Several China-origin figures here are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, so treat this comparison as directional.
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Full data
Full spec sheet
 AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20
Wins 7/11 |  Dassault Aviation Rafale F4
Wins 4/11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (km/h) | 2,100 km/h ✓ | 1,912 km/h |
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 2 Mach ✓ | 1.8 Mach |
| Range (km) | 3,400 km | 3,700 km ✓ |
| Combat radius (km) | 2,000 km ✓ | 1,850 km |
| Service ceiling (m) | 20,000 m ✓ | 15,235 m |
| Rate of climb (m/s) | N/A | 305 m/s |
| Thrust-to-weight | 1 ✓ | 0.99 |
| Firepower | ||
| Hardpoints | 6 | 14 ✓ |
| Weapons payload (kg) | 11,000 kg ✓ | 9,500 kg |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 20.4 m | 15.27 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 19,391 kg | 10,600 kg |
| Combat weight (kg) | 32,092 kg | 24,500 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Propulsion | ||
| Thrust (kN) | 142 kN ✓ | 75 kN |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | N/A | $115,000,000 |
| Units built | 250 | 280 ✓ |
| Operator countries | 1 | 8 ✓ |
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 is the fastest of the 2 compared here, at 2,100 km/h.
Which has the longer range? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the longest range at 3,700 km.
Which carries the larger weapons payload? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 carries the largest weapons payload at 11,000 kg.
Which is cheaper? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the lower public unit-cost figure at 115,000,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher max speed (mach)? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 has the higher max speed (mach) at 2 Mach.
Which has the higher combat radius? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 has the higher combat radius at 2,000 km.
Is the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 better than the Dassault Aviation Rafale F4? +
On the public specs we track, the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) J-20 leads on 5 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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