A previously unseen fighter jet believed to be a 6th-generation fighter has been seen in flight in China, revealing a design previously unknown in the West.
Several videos of the massive aircraft flying alongside the two-seat Chengdu J-20 fighter were shared on social media on Thursday, causing disbelief.
The alleged stealth fighter has distinctive features such as side and rear air intakes, which could indicate a three-engine aircraft.
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The diamond-wing jet does not have a conventional tail. Instead, there are twin vertical control surfaces on the wingtips that function similarly to the US B-2 bomber.
— Justin Bronk (@Justin_Br0nk) December 26, 2024
The flight took place near Chengdu headquarters and the mysterious aircraft kept its landing gear extended, a common procedure for initial sorties, at low speed.
Fighter-bomber?
It is unclear whether the alleged trijet is an air superiority fighter or a stealth fighter-bomber, given its large size and twin main landing gear in tandem, reminiscent of the Russian Su-34 jet.
A side view shows a short cockpit, which would indicate a single-seat aircraft, which is unusual for bomber jets.
China has been developing the H-20, a stealth bomber with a flying wing design, for years, and has been rumored for a few years.
But the H-20, manufactured by Xian, would be a larger aircraft, capable of long-range flights with a very large payload.
Conducting a flight in an urban environment follows a different philosophy from the United States Air Force (USAF), which prefers to conduct tests of highly classified aircraft at remote air bases and in controlled airspace.
Since China is able to do the same, it is understood that the flight was intentionally carried out during the day to publicize its achievement.
It is too early to know what stage China’s next-generation aircraft is at, but it is certainly an unexpected response to the United States’ efforts to maintain its edge in combat aircraft technology.
