China's alleged sixth-gen fighter maiden flight raises global competition concerns

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China's alleged sixth-gen fighter maiden flight raises global competition concerns

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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Dec 26, 2024

Videos have surfaced online allegedly showing China's new sixth-generation fighter jet flying for the first time, accompanied by a fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon fighter as a chase plane. This development could position China as one of the leading nations in sixth-generation fighter technology, alongside the United States, which has Northrop Grumman's B-21 Raider.

In November 2024, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled a mockup of the AVIC Baidi Type-B at the Zhuhai airshow. It remains uncertain if this is the same aircraft seen in flight or if claims about its space-operational capabilities hold true.

If confirmed, this maiden flight would be significant, given that China's Chengdu J-20 only entered service in 2017 after its first flight in 2011. The event might signal China's advancing position in global military aviation technology amidst discussions about the U.S. Air Force potentially canceling its manned sixth-generation fighter program (NGAD).

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The new Chinese fighter appears to feature design elements similar to proposed U.S. sixth-generation fighters, such as a tailless structure and diamond-shaped wings. However, details on its capabilities remain scarce.

China's progress in this field may highlight its technological advancements compared to Russia and its narrowing gap with the United States. The U.S., which introduced fifth-generation fighters with the F-22 Raptor in 2005, still faces challenges with Russia struggling to produce fifth-generation Su-57 Felon fighters.

Notable non-Chinese sixth-generation programs include the U.S. Air Force's NGAD initiative, the Navy's F/A-XX project, and the Anglo-Japanese-Italian Tempest/GCAP program. France and Germany are working on their FACS fighter but are reportedly behind these efforts.

Additionally, China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities beyond aircraft development. Its carrier fleet has grown significantly with vessels like Type 001 Liaoning and Type 002 Shandong derived from Soviet designs and now features an indigenous Type 003 Fujian supercarrier under trials.

Simultaneously, China has introduced its fifth-generation J-35 variant intended for carrier operations though its service entry date remains unknown.