The Chengdu J-20, China's first domestically developed fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, made its historic maiden flight on January 11, 2011. Developed by the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the aircraft's first flight took place at an airport in Chengdu and lasted approximately 15 minutes. This milestone occurred while U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was visiting China, marking a significant moment in aviation history as China became only the second country to field an operational stealth aircraft. Following years of rigorous flight testing and the development of multiple prototypes, the J-20 officially entered active service in March 2017, with the first combat units forming in early 2018.