China on Monday dispatched its advanced J-20 stealth fighters for the first time as it began a joint five-day military drill with Russia in the Northwest region of the country. Besides the fighter plane, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) also deployed many of its newest weapons, including the Y-20 large transport planes, during the exercise, the first since the COVID-19 outbreak, reported The South China Morning Post. Over 10,000 troops will take part in the Zapad/Interaction-2021 exercise held at the Ningxia Hui autonomous region where innovative combat tactics like emergency troop and heavy weapon drops, long-range strikes by J-16 fighter bombers, and the use of drones, will be displayed. Liu Xiaowu, commander-in-chief of the Chinese troops, told state broadcaster CCTV that 81% of weapons being used in the drill were "brand new." "That includes the J-20 [stealth fighter jet], KJ-500 [airborne early-warning and control aircraft], and J-16, while surveillance and combat drones and new armored vehicles will also [be involved]," he said.