China unveils two stealthy contenders for sixth-gen air dominance
The Chinese showcased not one but two fighter jets in the air that may belong to the sixth generation. We explore what the second prototype might be.
On December 24th, the birthday of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, a mysterious aircraft was showcased by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG), which was allegedly a sixth-generation machine. However, that's not all, as shortly afterwards, photos appeared of another similar aircraft identified as the work of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), which produces, among others, the Shenyang J-11 aircraft, a developmental copy of the Russian Su-27.
It is not unusual for a country with several aircraft manufacturers to develop competing designs, as is the case, for example, in the U.S. There are many interested parties in creating a machine for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which resembles the competition in the U.S. for the F-22 Raptor, where Lockheed Martin presented the YF-22. The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas team developed the YF-23 Black Widow II.
The second mysterious Chinese aircraft — a competitor for the PLAAF's future machine
Two flying prototypes indicate that the Chinese sixth-generation fighter jet program seems to be at a higher level of advancement than the NGAD program in the U.S. or the Tempest and GCAP in European countries, which are still in the conceptual phase.
Like the prototype from CAIG, the fighter from SAC appears to be based on a delta wing variation without a vertical stabilizer. However, the SAC aircraft seems much smaller. According to the portal The Aviationist, it may be a twin-engine aircraft with two square air intakes below the wing root.
Features of sixth-generation aircraft
There is no precisely defined list of features for sixth-generation fighters, but certain common requirements are emerging. Modern aircraft should be equipped with advanced electronic warfare capabilities, capable of operations against targets beyond direct line of sight, and the ability to strike targets in the air, on land, and at sea.
It is also expected that they will have improved aerodynamics, which might involve the abandonment of traditional control surfaces. Additionally, the pilot is to be supported by artificial intelligence (AI). The new aircraft is also expected to easily cooperate with so-called unmanned loyal wingmen.
There is increasing discussion in this context about the possibility of unmanned operation and the use of energy weapons, such as lasers, which are being developed by American labs, among others.
