The new picture may have captured one of the main defense innovations of the PRC - a prototype of a sixth-generation fighter. Externally, it is similar to the American X-44 MANTA concept, as well as to the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of fighter jets in China and perhaps the most famous these days. It is he who produces the first Chinese fifth-generation fighter J-20, which has already been adopted.
This is just the beginning: in the foreseeable future, China may arm itself with a sixth-generation fighter. This is evidenced by a recently obtained satellite image capturing the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation test airfield, located next to its Chengdu plant.
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| A sixth-generation fighter. |
| Source: PLANET LABS |
On it you can see J-20 and J-10, several drones and one unusual, unlike other aircraft. Some media outlets call the novelty a "prototype of a sixth-generation fighter," but there is no confirmation that this is indeed the case.
In any case, we are talking about an extremely large car. The most interesting element is the tailless layout. Experts compare the aircraft with the Lockheed Martin concept - X-44 MANTA - whose representatives have not been born.
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| X-44 MANTA. |
| Source: nationalinterest |
At the same time, something similar is being created under the Next Generation Air Dominance program. This is a joint project of the US Air Force and American aircraft companies to develop a sixth-generation fighter. The video presented recently may have demonstrated a model of a promising car.
The alleged appearance of NGAD has been repeatedly shown in different images. Another vision of what the NGAD fighter can be has recently been demonstrated by the American Air Force itself.
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| A new NGAD concept. |
| Source: USAF |
Last year, it became known about the testing of a "full-scale demonstration sample" of NGAD, which "broke many records."
The Europeans are actively developing sixth-generation fighters. The UK leads a group that is working on BAE Systems Tempest. France, Germany and Spain are creating another aircraft under the Future Combat Air System program.
In any case, this year turned out to be fruitful for the aircraft industry of China. Recently, a prototype of the first Chinese carrier-based fighter, the "invisible" J-35, took to the sky. In addition, Beijing has begun testing the first ever two-seat fifth-generation fighter. It was built on the basis of the J-20.
