The visuals of China’s 6th Generation fighter jet test flight stunningly overwhelmed the world. China’s fifth generation fighter jet J-20S, a twin seat variant of its Chengdu J-20 was seen flying along with it. The visuals of Chinese craft has over crowded the social media site “X” on 26th December, a day that co-incides with birthday of PRC’s founder Mao Zedong (born on 26th December 1893).
Shailesh Kumar, National Defence
New Delhi, 26 December 2024
The accompanying J-20 fighter seen in visuals is speculated to have acted as “a chase plane”, which was deployed to observe the flight in real-time and take air-to-air photographs and video.
Watch video of China’s 6th Generation fighter jet.
This development could be a big feat for Chinese military aviation but certainly should be a serious concern for India’s security establishment, that is facing the reality of fast depleting combat squadrons in Indian Air Force.
China which has shocked the world with its latest fifth generation Shenyang J-35A flight at Zhuhai air show. News reports following the purported flight that India’s rival Pakistan may get 2 squadrons of stealthy J-35A within 2 years was no less than a sonic boom for Indian security planners. China has become the second country after U.S. to have two types of stealthy 5th generation fighter jets.
U.S. has got F-35 and F-22 Raptor. In recent years crash of many F-35s raised concerns amongst American military. In May this year, satellite images reportedly had surfaced, revealing China’s deployment of J-20 stealth fighters within 150 km of the India-China boundary in Sikkim. Shigatse, where the J-20s have been reportedly seen, is located less than 300 km from Hasimara in West Bengal, home to India’s second Rafale squadron. Rafale is considered a 4 and half generation fighter.
India’s fifth generation fighter AMCA is under pipeline while indigenous LCA Tejas fighter rely on American engines. India’s sixth generation dreams, if any may be a guarded secret. In this backdrop, rival China fielding two types of fifth generation and 6th generation taking a giant leap on 26th December 2024 would take China’s military capabilities generations ahead than India in terms of technology development.
However, both India and China recently negotiated a border patrol agreement and on 26th December Chinese defence ministry spokesperson confirmed that at present, the Chinese and Indian militaries are comprehensively and effectively implementing the border-related solutions reached between the two sides, and steady progress has been made,” It is reported that Special Representatives Ajit Doval and Wang Yi on the China-India Boundary Question held a meeting recently. The two sides reached six points of consensus. Both sides agreed to further enhance coordination and cooperation in diplomatic and military negotiations. However, having military capabilities are important for any nation to maintain its sovereignty.
The timing of the Chinese 6th generation fighter’s test flight coinciding with the birthday of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China. Testing a sixth generation fighter jet would mean that China is readying itself for integrated space-air supersonic combat flights. The fighter jet can potentially operate in space beyond earth atmosphere.
From the footage, it is clear that the aircraft features a unique design, including three engines—two located at the bottom of the fuselage and one positioned on top, with an intake above the center engine. The Bái huángdì fighter jet also seems to be equipped with side and upper air intakes, a dual-bogey main undercarriage, and split airbrakes or flaperons, which indicate its advanced aerodynamic and performance features. Many are intrigued about China’s decision to fly the prototype during daylight hours, which many believe is significant in terms of its strategic messaging. Would Bái huángdì 6th gen craft be equivalent to the US Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter. That remains a question, which can only be answered in future. U.S. latest military report released recently in December 2024 termed China as pacing challenge and PRC as capable military adversary.
Recently at Zhuhai Air Show, when China flaunted its Shenyang J-35A stealth fighter, Chinese have shown their technology prowess to the world. J-35A, considered equivalent to US F-35A, is a twin-engine, single-seater, supersonic, air-superiority, multi-role fighter jet that can carry out missions on land and at sea. F-35A is single engine fighter. Many allege that China’s many aerial platforms are copy cat of the designs of several US aircraft. The J-20 and the US F-22 Raptor are look alike in design except for canards that are present in J-20. The Chengdu J-10, also known as the “Vigorous Dragon”, is yet another Chinese aircraft which seems to be a copy of the US F-16 fighter jet.
According to Chinese mouthpiece global times, “J-35A functions within both stealth and counter-stealth combat frameworks. Its mission focuses on gaining and maintaining air superiority, eliminating hostile fourth/fifth generation fighter jets and ground/surface air defence forces, as well as intercepting aerial hostile targets including fighters, bombers and cruise missiles.”
What is a sixth generation fighter jet? Watch file video
China only a few days back successfully tested its hypersonic drone MD-22. The drone MD-22, a concept revealed in 2022 were released from a TB-001 drone and a high-altitude balloon. Launching hypersonic weapons from various platforms allows attacks from multiple directions and altitudes, with these diverse air-based launchers adding tactical options for China. With the launch China’s multi-platform hypersonic strike force has taken a definite shape.
With latest testing of 6th generation, Chinese have taken a giant leap in fighter jet development and would project itself as true space force in times to come.
Comments