Hong Kong (CNN) The Chinese air force saved the big guns for last at its biennial Zhuhai air show, flying its new stealth fighters with full missile loads Sunday for the first time in a public display.

A report last year from the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested the J-20 could pose a strategic challenge to key components of the US air fleet, such as aerial refueling tankers, as well as early warning and command and control aircraft, if armed with long-range air-to-air missiles.

Sunday, the J-20s showed off that capability in what state-run Xinhua news service described as a surprise "stunning aerial display" on the final day of the six-day Airshow China, where the PLA displays and markets its military hardware.

A J-20 fighter of the Chinese air force shows its load of long-range missiles at Airshow China in Zhuhai on Sunday.

In a Xinhua video, two J-20s screamed over the huge crowds at Airshow China with bomb bay doors open, showing four long-range missiles mounted inside. Two missiles were also mounted under the jets' wings.

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