China’s Stealth Fighter: A Game-Changing Super Weapon in the Race for Air Supremacy

[Social Media]

 

China appears to be advancing rapidly in the race for aerial dominance with the development of a new stealth fighter jet. The groundbreaking aircraft, described by analysts as a potential "super weapon," has stunned military observers worldwide. Speculation is rife that the jet is designed to operate on the edge of space and target previously unreachable U.S. military assets, such as early warning aircraft and refueling tankers.  

JUST IN: 🇨🇳 First video of the brand new Chinese stealth fighter jet, believed to be a 6th-generation warplane. pic.twitter.com/XsE2Q2fpE9

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) December 26, 2024

 

The plane was recently spotted during a daytime test flight in China, flying alongside the Chengdu J-20, China’s current-generation stealth fighter.

 

 

Analysts suggest this pairing indicates the new fighter is intended to surpass the J-20’s capabilities. According to *The War Zone*, the jet could revolutionize the operational capacity of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) by covering vast regional distances, remaining airborne for extended periods, and operating without tanker support—an area where the PLAAF has traditionally lagged behind the United States.  

 

"If procured in an operational form by the PLAAF, it would be able to fly over long regional distances and loiter for extended periods on station far from home without tanker support," noted *The War Zone*. It further emphasized that the fighter could carry out missions closer to threats than any other manned aircraft currently in China’s arsenal.  

 

Key design features of the aircraft highlight its stealth and high-performance capabilities. Aviation experts have noted the plane’s engines are fed by a single dorsal inlet and two ventral inlets, with the dorsal inlet employing a stealth-enhancing diverterless supersonic design. This configuration is said to optimize the jet for high-speed and stealth operations.  

 

The large ventral fuselage section appears to house an internal weapons bay, while the landing gear—featuring two wheels per main leg—mirrors designs used in heavy fighter-bombers like Russia’s Sukhoi Su-34. Observers have also identified potential missile and bomb loading hatches under the fuselage, enhancing radar stealth. The engine nozzles, positioned above the fuselage, are strategically designed to minimize heat radiation and noise, further boosting survivability.  

 

The jet’s size has drawn particular attention, as it suggests a focus on endurance and internal capacity. Analysts speculate the aircraft’s massive internal volume could accommodate an extensive fuel load, advanced sensors, and a significant array of weaponry. Additionally, aerodynamic efficiencies likely contribute to its ability to perform high-speed dashes and sustained cruising flights.  

 

Intriguingly, some images of the aircraft have led to speculation that it may feature three engines—a highly unconventional design choice. This would address the higher weight of the aircraft and support aggressive performance goals, particularly for high-speed and high-altitude operations.  

 

Retired U.S. Air Force General Mark D. Kelly had previously acknowledged the possibility of China developing next-generation fighter jets. "They are not dummies. They know what they’re doing," he said, cautioning that the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program is likely to include "exponential" advancements in stealth technology over existing platforms.  

 

The development of this new fighter jet underscores China’s determination to challenge U.S. air superiority. If the aircraft achieves its speculated capabilities, it could mark a significant shift in the balance of power in aerial warfare, raising the stakes in the competition for control of the skies.

 

Based on a report by the Daily Mail 2024-12-28

 

 

 

[harryviking]

LMAO! Chinese junk! It is a bad copy and will not work at all!

[soalbundy]

53 minutes ago, harryviking said:

LMAO! Chinese junk! It is a bad copy and will not work at all!

Do tell

[The Old Bull]

2 hours ago, harryviking said:

LMAO! Chinese junk! It is a bad copy and will not work at all!

Sounds like what they were saying about Japanese vehicles in the 70's

[mdr224]

What country did they copy for this one

[thaipo7]

54 minutes ago, mdr224 said:

What country did they copy for this one

This is the question that came to my mind.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, mdr224 said:

What country did they copy for this one

 

8 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

This is the question that came to my mind.

The answer to your question is the US. It's called the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance)

[Purdey]

Boys and their toys. 

[Enoon]

 

"Retired U.S. Air Force General Mark D. Kelly had previously acknowledged the possibility of China developing next-generation fighter jets. "They are not dummies. They know what they’re doing," he said, cautioning that the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program is likely to include "exponential" advancements in stealth technology over existing platforms" 

 

Unlike the people mindlessly "copying" and repeating the worn out mantra that China is only capable of copying, the USAF general knows perfectly well that:

 

A) China has learned quite enough, during its meteoric period of technological development, to build on the knowledge gained and to independently develop its own innovative ideas/designs.

 

B) Designers with similar knowledge levels tend to come up with similar designs when designing, consecutively and independently, for similar requirements.

 

Look back at the monoplane fighter designs that proliferated in the mid/late 1930's and you will see a lot of broadly similar designs........there was no way that they could not be similar given the high level of equivalence in knowledge/competence existing in design offices around the world.

 

PS.

Re: Copying.

When Reginald Mitchell "designed" the elliptical wing, which gets him so much adulation, of the Spitfire (first flight March 1936).......

 

 

.......was he "copying" the wing of the Mitsubishi A5? (first flight February 1935)......

 

 

.......or the wing of the Heinkel 70? (first flight December 1932!)......

 

 

🫠

 

 

 

 

[Enoon]

.

[candide]

5 hours ago, mdr224 said:

What country did they copy for this one

 

52 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

"Retired U.S. Air Force General Mark D. Kelly had previously acknowledged the possibility of China developing next-generation fighter jets. "They are not dummies. They know what they’re doing," he said, cautioning that the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program is likely to include "exponential" advancements in stealth technology over existing platforms" 

 

Unlike the people mindlessly "copying" and repeating the worn out mantra that China is only capable of copying, the USAF general knows perfectly well that:

 

A) China has learned quite enough, during its meteoric period of technological development, to build on the knowledge gained and to independently develop its own innovative ideas/designs.

 

B) Designers with similar knowledge levels tend to come up with similar designs when designing, consecutively and independently, for similar requirements.

 

Look back at the monoplane fighter designs that proliferated in the mid/late 1930's and you will see a lot of broadly similar designs........there was no way that they could not be similar given the high level of equivalence in knowledge/competence existing in design offices around the world.

 

PS.

Re: Copying.

When Reginald Mitchell "designed" the elliptical wing, which gets him so much adulation, of the Spitfire (first flight March 1936).......

 

 

.......was he "copying" the wing of the Mitsubishi A5? (first flight February 1935)......

 

 

.......or the wing of the Heinkel 70? (first flight December 1932!)......

 

 

🫠

 

 

 

 

Long story...

https://www.printables.com/model/480941-horten-ho-229-ww2-era-german-flying-wing-fighter-j

[scottiejohn]

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Boys and their toys. 

Except they are not toys when used in anger!

[NoDisplayName]

5 hours ago, mdr224 said:

What country did they copy for this one

 

Germany.

 

Horton flying wing, 1944.

 

 

http://historyheap.blogspot.com/2011/12/amazing-wooden-fighter-aircraft.html

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

They're still a ways off from developing a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

[Patong2021]

5 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

Sounds like what they were saying about Japanese vehicles in the 70's

 

Ever drive some of them? The Suzuki Samurai was a classic 1980's  nightmare. The early Japanese models were tiny and underpowered and  had rust and corrosion issues. The Japanese  sorted that all out in the 1980's and 1990's . They did it through innovation and their own engineering.

 

The Chinese stealth fighter we see today is based upon industrial espionage and general theft of proprietary information. I hope the US  let the  Chinese also steal some inherent intentional defects or signature  deficiencies.

[trainman34014]

4 hours ago, Purdey said:

Boys and their toys. 

They will become Toys when Thailand buys them !

[transam]

Is it made under the MG badge....😝.........

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 hours ago, mdr224 said:

What country did they copy for this one

The Mekong Delta?

[Will B Good]

This where the German diesel engines ended up......... having been purloined from the Thai subs.

[scottiejohn]

1 hour ago, transam said:

Is it made under the MG badge....😝.........

I hope not from Abingdon or its later home at British Leyland!!

 

PS; Abingdon was the original home of the UK MG cars!

[transam]

17 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

I hope not from Abingdon or its later home at British Leyland!!

 

PS; Abingdon was the original home of the UK MG cars!

I think the MG owners 'now' think they are made there..................😂...........Well, they do have a Union Jack on the boot....🤭

[Deerculler]

15 hours ago, harryviking said:

LMAO! Chinese junk! It is a bad copy and will not work at all!

How do you know?

Have you flown one?

[Deerculler]

7 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

They're still a ways off from developing a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

Really.