CHINA

Chief Designer of China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Disappears From Elite Academic Roster

Published: Mar. 17, 2026 1:42 p.m. GMT+8

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Yang Wei. Photo: VCG

Beijing has quietly scrubbed the chief designer of China’s J-20 stealth fighter jet from its premier scientific academy, marking the latest high-profile disappearance in a widening anticorruption campaign targeting the country’s military-industrial complex.

The name and biography of Yang Wei, former vice president of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp. of China, were recently removed from the official online roster of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Yang Wei, chief designer of China’s J-20 stealth fighter, was removed from the Chinese Academy of Sciences amid an anticorruption campaign.
Yang’s public biography and those of three other military-industrial leaders were recently scrubbed from official rosters.
Yang’s career highlights include leading the J-20 project, contributing to the J-10, and holding top roles at AVIC and the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute.

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Who’s Who

Aviation Industry Corp. of China: Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) is a state-owned enterprise formed in November 2008. It resulted from the merger of two major state aviation conglomerates. AVIC's extensive business operations encompass aviation weaponry, military transport aircraft, helicopters, airborne systems, general aviation, asset management, and finance, all managed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Yang Wei, chief designer of the J-20 stealth fighter jet, served as its former vice president.

China Electronics Technology Group Corp.: China Electronics Technology Group Corp. (CETC) is a state-owned enterprise in China's defense sector. Its former general manager, Wu Manqing, was recently removed from the official roster of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, part of a wider anti-corruption campaign targeting military-industrial groups.

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.: Wei Yiyin, identified as the former vice president of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp., is among three academicians whose names were removed from the Chinese Academy of Engineering's official roster. This removal is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign targeting China's military-industrial complex.

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What Happened When

May 1963：: Yang Wei was born in Zizhong, Sichuan province.

1978：: At age 15, Yang Wei made a special request to take the first national college entrance examination restored after the Cultural Revolution and was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

November 1985：: Yang Wei graduated with his master's degree and joined AVIC's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute.

March 1998：: The J-10 fighter jet, which Yang contributed to, completed its maiden flight.

By 2000：: Yang Wei became China's youngest chief aircraft designer.

2008：: Yang Wei transferred to AVIC headquarters.

November 2008：: AVIC was formed through the merger of two major state aviation conglomerates.

November 2017：: Yang Wei was elected as an academician to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

2018：: Yang Wei was appointed vice president and a member of AVIC's core party leadership group.

October 31, 2024：: Yang Wei made his last public appearance at a meeting in Beijing to launch a national key laboratory for avionics integration.

Earlier in 2026：: The Chinese Academy of Engineering updated its roster, removing the names and biographies of three other academicians who formerly held leadership roles in military-industrial groups: Wu Manqing, Zhao Xiangeng, and Wei Yiyin.