China's new generation stealth fighter jet J-20 has officially entered service in the People's Liberation Army air force.

Video footage from state-owned CCTV Channel 7 showed on Friday the J-20 fighters officially joining the PLA air force with Y-20 transport planes and H-6k bombers, South China Morning Post reported. However, it was not revealed how many J-20 jets entered into service.

It can be recalled that the J-20 fighter jets made a two-minute debut during the opening of Airshow China in Guangdong's Zhuhai last November. At that time, ground viewing was not permitted, sparking speculation that the indigenous plane is falling behind its production schedule.

However, such rumors were debunked by General Ma Xiaotian, air force chief, a day after the J-20 took off for its maiden flight. Ma even noted that the J-20 production would be hastened and will be put into operation soon.

Meanwhile, Antony Wong Dong, a military analyst, believes that only a handful of J-20 units were produced because of engine problems.

"Technical and production problem of WS-15 engines, which were in the J-20, are not solved," Wong said. "The J-20 has not yet entered mass production progress, and now just a few limited aircraft are able to serve in the air force, similar to the Y-20."

Doubts also surface as to whether the new Chinese fighter could match the properties of Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air-to-air combat, which strikes the closest resemblance to the J-20. China is also rooting for another stealth fighter on the pipeline - the J-31. The jet is poised to compete with the US arsenal's latest strike jet, the Lockheed F-35.

 China is also eyeing to ramp up the development of its marine corps, including destroyers and frigates. Its first home-grown aircraft carrier is also nearing completion and is expected to join the PLA by the end of the decade.