While much of the world was recovering from Christmas Day overindulgence, China was offering a glimpse of not one but two 6th generation fighter jets.
On December 26, 2024, images began to emerge of what appears to be a large, tailless ‘flying wing’ military aircraft undergoing a daytime test flight with a twin-seat Chengdu J-20S fighter serving as a chase plane.
A matter of hours later, footage of a second new design emerged, this time a smaller aircraft. Some of the footage appears to show a Flanker-series aircraft in chase, which The War Zone (TWZ) suggests may be a J-16.
TWZ analysis points to the first, larger fighter being a Chengdu design, while the smaller aircraft may be a Shenyang combat aircraft.
However, no confirmation has been received from Beijing regarding these test flights, and although the footage appears to be genuine, it’s not possible to independently verify the authenticity of the images.
China’s new heavy stealth fighter
First to break cover was the larger warplane, with images appearing to show three engines and a diamond-shaped wing with no vertical tails. It is thought that the flight took place at Chengdu Aircraft Corporation headquarters in Sichuan province, China.
With no tail for yaw control, the aircraft appears to have some fairly complicated control surfaces, with as many as five on each wing’s trailing edge. Unusually, there seem to be twin air intakes on the lower side of the fuselage and a third on the top.
The large central fuselage section provides space for a huge weapons bay, more akin to a bomber than a fighter. However, its diamond wing design suggests speed and stealth, and an aircraft tied to China’s version of the US NGAD initiative. The mission in question is to design an aircraft that is heavy and fighter-like with sustained speed, high range, low observability, and extensive weaponry.
In one of the clearest photos of the jet, the number ‘36’ can be seen on the forward fuselage. While it remains unconfirmed, TWZ suggests the possibility that this could transpire to be the J-36. Logically, this would follow as the next in the sequence of Chinese fighters after the J-35.
Other opinions suggest this could be a 5th generation regional bomber, a project coded as the JH-XX.
What about the other 6th generation design?
Within hours of the first aircraft breaking cover, another unidentified aircraft took to the skies. This time it was a smaller design with a sharply swept wing and a tricycle landing gear.
Unconfirmed reports suggest this is from Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which would make sense given that the chase plane was a J-16, another Shenyang product.
The design is slightly more conventional, given that the aircraft uses just two engines rather than three. However, it is still a tailless ‘flying wing’ design, with a cranked arrow planform. TWZ points out that, as there has been no sign of a cockpit in any of the imagery so far, it could be a drone or an optionally unmanned platform.
A significant day for China
While the flights and aircraft involved remain unconfirmed, flying both on December 26th, 2024, would seem to have been a poignant move for China.
December 26th is the birthday of Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China, who would have been 131 this year. Also, it’s 13 years to the day since the Chengdu J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ first broke cover.
Unlike the West, Chinese culture does not see the number 13 as unlucky. Indeed, 13 in Mandarin Chinese is linked to positive concepts like growth and vitality.
Both aircraft flew during the day in an area where they were likely to be photographed, which suggests a certain degree of intent. China wanted these aircraft to be seen, and as a result, they have caused quite a stir.