China Purges Top Stealth Fighter Designer as Defense Industry Crackdown Continues

ADThe ouster of a key jet designer signals broader scrutiny of weapons programs, leadership networks, and defense sector performance.A Chinese-made Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter is displayed during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, in south China’s Guangdong province on Nov. 12, 2024. Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images3/19/2026|Updated: 3/19/2026News AnalysisThe removal of a leading Chinese stealth fighter designer from an elite academic body is the latest sign of a sweeping purge inside China’s powerful defense industry—one that has now ensnared top executives across all major state-owned military firms.Michael Zhuang is a contributor to The Epoch Times with a focus on China-related topics.Author’s Selected Articles