Both models have a tailless design, making them less visible to radar and providing more internal space for fuel and weapons.
In December, two leading Chinese aircraft manufacturers, Chengdu and Shenyang Aircraft Corporations, separately unveiled demonstration models of new sixth-generation manned stealth aircraft. Secrets of China's new stealth aircraft revealed.
David Axe, a military analyst, writes about this for The Telegraph.
The US Department of Defense published its latest annual report on China's military capabilities on December 18. The document contains a serious analysis detailing the rapid modernization of the People's Liberation Army of China in such areas as space, cyberspace, air, land, sea and underwater. This modernization is obviously aimed at preparing the Chinese army for a possible invasion and occupation of Taiwan. At the same time, it is designed to deter any attempts at interference from the US or its allies.
The Pentagon report places particular emphasis on the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAF).
“The PLAF seeks to expand its power projection capabilities,” the document says.
The further Chinese aircraft can penetrate into the Western Pacific and the more weapons they can carry, the better their chances of a possible attack on Taiwan.
Just eight days after the publication of the U.S. Department of Defense report, China's military aviation ambitions have taken on concrete form. Two leading Chinese aircraft manufacturers, Chengdu and Shenyang Aircraft Corporations, separately unveiled demonstration models of new sixth-generation manned stealth aircraft. Demonstration flights were carried out over the factory airfields of both companies.
Locals at the airfields filmed videos of the demonstrators, noting the technological sophistication of the new aircraft. Both fighter models have a tailless design, making them less visible to radar and giving them more internal space for fuel and weapons.
At the same time, although this design helps reduce the radar signature, it significantly complicates the aircraft's control. Until now, tailless stealth models were used only for bombers, and not for fighters that require maneuverability for air combat. The Chinese demonstrators are likely prototypes of strike aircraft or medium bombers that could replace the aging Xi'an JH-7 models.
Transforming such aircraft into production combat models is a difficult task. However, China has demonstrated determination to develop aircraft that can approach the characteristics of the American B-2 and B-21 bombers.
In turn, the United States is also working on the sixth generation of combat aircraft, including tailless stealth models. The transition to the sixth generation of fighters is also being prepared by the European Tempest program, which involves Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
If Chinese models follow the development pattern of the J-20 aircraft, the new aircraft could become combat units by the mid-2030s. By that time, the JH-7 will be completely obsolete, and the new aircraft could become key in the event of an escalation of the conflict with Taiwan.
Recall that at the end of December, Chinese sources reported that eyewitnesses recorded the flight of an unknown combat drone in the skies over the city of Chengdu, accompanied by a modern fighter J-20.
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