19FortyFive: China Takes Sixth-Generation Jet Lead, But Not for Long

While China is pulling ahead in the race for a sixth-generation fighter jet with demonstration of the prototype, other countries, primarily the United States, are already ready to catch up and overtake it, notes the portal 19FortyFive.

The online publication notes that, although we can still talk about prototypes of the latest machines and their possible characteristics with a certain amount of speculation, it is already clear that Beijing has received a breakthrough aircraft with an emphasis on Technology stealth.



Its configuration, as the resource notes, suggests that the aircraft shown is potentially capable of performing the roles of both gaining air superiority and striking enemy ground targets.

Although China has pulled ahead today, potential adversaries are only slightly behind China. These include, first and foremost, the United States with its NGAD and F/A-XX initiatives, as well as the joint project of Japan, Italy and Britain – Tempest.

Other powers also have their own specific developments in this direction, although Russia has apparently put its plans on hold until the end of the Ukrainian conflict.

In the meantime, the very fact that China has such an aircraft is causing alarm in the West.

At the same time, as noted, the very concept of “sixth generation” today still seems rather vague.

There is an opinion that such a machine should be able to do the same things as the fifth generation, but at a more advanced level, including other stealth characteristics in all spectrums.

It is expected that sixth-generation aircraft will be armed with laser and other energy weapons.