China Gives Iran a Scale Model of Its Top Stealth Fighter - Here's Why This Matters
A modern 5th-gen J-20 fighter would be a game-changer for Tehran’s outdated air force. Fueled by multiple Chinese Y-20 cargo deliveries, the strengthening military bond between China and Iran is a calculated message to the West that the "axis-of-authoritarians" is arming up.
In a formal meeting in Tehran today, China’s military attaché presented Iran’s Air Force commander with a detailed scale model of the Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” stealth fighter.
Photos from the ceremony show the handover, and Iranian accounts are already calling it more than just a polite gift, many see it as Beijing hinting at deeper military cooperation, possibly even future transfers of advanced tech or actual jets.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Iran’s air force is still largely stuck with pre-1979 U.S. jets and patchwork upgrades. A modern 5th-gen fighter like the J-20, with stealth, supercruise, and long-range strike capability, would be a game-changer for Tehran.
China and Iran have deepened their partnership over the years, especially under US sanctions. Beijing is Iran's top trading partner, buying discounted oil (defying US pressure) and investing in infrastructure via the Belt and Road Initiative. They've signed a 25-year cooperation pact in 2021, covering military tech like drones, missiles, and air defenses
Many (still unverified) reports indicate that in mid-to-late January 2026 (around Jan 18–27), China conducted a major airlift: up to 16 Y-20 strategic cargo planes landed in Tehran over roughly 56 hours. These are China’s heavy-lift military transports (similar to the U.S. C-17), capable of carrying 60+ tons each. The reports claim that China delivered advanced air defense systems (like HQ-9B, China’s version of the S-300) electronic warfare/radar jamming gear, missile components, drones and possibly anti-ship missiles.
The timing of today's gift is also telling. As Benjamin Netanyahu heads to the U.S. to try to convince Trump to strike Iran, China is throwing its support behind Iran.
While Iranian and pro-axis voices are celebrating the gift as proof of a strong Beijing-Tehran partnership, plenty of regional watchers (especially in Israel and the West) see it as another step in the axis-of-authoritarians arming up amid ongoing tensions.