CHINA has unveiled the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet – an ultra-stealth spy craft without a tail.
Social media was flooded with footage showing the futuristic “super weapon”, touted by experts as the “most advanced” ever, arcing through the sky.
The sixth-generation jet test flight is the latest in a flurry of advancements in the Chinese military aircraft programme.
Military experts have said the latest model marks a significant shift in aerial dominance towards China.
The video shows the huge black jet, named unofficially as the J-36, gliding through the air in broad daylight.
The diamond-shaped “modified delta wing” design has a huge surface area, blotting out a large area of the sky.
No official information has been released about the jet, but it is believed to be the first sixth-generation fighter jet to be publicly exhibited in the world.
It has been claimed the Chinese government wanted footage of the new jet to circulate online because they made no effort to stop the spread of information.
The test flight also came on December 26, thought to have been deliberately chosen to coincide with the birthday of the dictator Mao Zedong, who founded the People’s Republic of China.
Several countries including the US have been racing to develop a sixth-generation jet so, if confirmed, this would mark a significant victory for the Chinese air force.
The new jet was flanked by a two-seater Chengdu J-20S chase plane, allowing for some comparison.
The unique design of the new aircraft is tailless, meaning it uses computers rather than vertical stabilisers to maintain control.
Tailless designs are much harder to detect with radar, indicating the jet is likely to be used for stealth missions.
It also makes the craft more aerodynamic by reducing drag, so it could be used for long-rang endurance flights.
Images suggest the new plane is at least as long as the J-20, which is around 70ft.
The body of the jet is very large compared to its length meaning it can carry large quantities of fuel, again suggesting it will be deployed on long-range missions.
The “most unusual” feature of the jet is the position of the air intakes on top of the fuselage and on either side.
This has led to speculation of a “highly unorthodox” three-engine arrangement.
Euan Graham, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the new designs “show the willingness of China’s aviation industry to experiment and innovate”.
“Whatever the merits or demerits, it appears to be a highly original design,” he said.
“They deserve kudos for that, and should shake off any lingering complacency that the U.S. and its allies always set the pace.”
The flight jet took to the skies over Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, and is thought to have been manufactured by the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC).
A few hours after the jet took flight, footage began to emerge of a second new, slightly smaller aircraft launched from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation facility.
Sixth-generation fighter jets are the most advanced aircraft design – one up on the fifth generation jets already deployed by various airforces.
Multiple countries have been known to be attempting to develop a sixth-generation fighter, including China, the US and Russia.
Other countries have joined forces on sixth-gen projects, such as the UK, Japan and Italy in the Global Combat Air Programme, and France, Germany and Spain with FCAS.
Sixth-generation fighter concepts share several distinct characteristics, such as the inclusion of AI and advanced stealth capabilities.
If the jet spotted in the video footage is indeed a sixth-generation fighter jet, then China appears to have taken a significant step forward at the front of the race.
The debut of the J-36 jet challenges US superiority in the skies and could have serious implications for India, which currently lacks a stealth fighter jet.
It is anticipated the US will deploy its first sixth-generation fighter to the field around 2030.
The demo of the new plane comes just a month after China unveiled the J-35 fighter jet, which bore a striking similarity to an American design, the F-35.
It was even claimed that the fifth generation fighter was built from designs for the American craft which were stolen by Xi Jinping’s agents.
At the airshow the China released plans for a mysterious “White Emperor” jet design – capable of dropping devastating weapons from space.
However, it is not thought this was the design captured in the recent footage.
China is also vying to take on the US “Son of Concorde” with an even faster supersonic jet that could blast from London to New York City in less than two hours.
Beijing-based Space Transportation – also known as Lingkong Tianxing Technology – has been carrying out test flights and recently reached a speed of 3,106 mph which is four times the speed of sound, according to Chinese media.
