New Chinese Stealth Tactical Jet Breaks Cover
>Recently emerged imagery largely confirms that China is now test-flying another tailless stealthy combat jet, although it isn’t clear if this is a crewed design or one of its new advanced drones.
>A high-performance, highly autonomous uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) with collaborative ‘loyal wingman’ capabilities is a major possibility. Still, based on the design, this could very well be yet another 6th-generation crewed jet — one that is similar to, or even would compete more directly with Shenyang’s J-XDS (also nicknamed the J-50 by some) fighter rather than Chengdu’s massive J-36 super-heavy tactical jet.
>This latest development once again underscores the frantic pace of Beijing’s military aerospace developments, which include activities across a wide range of drone programs as well as advanced crewed types.
>The aircraft seen in the recently emerged images has a notably pointed forward fuselage and nose section that blends into the mid-set wing midway down the fuselage. The highly swept wing has cropped tips, and the trailing edge features a prominent triangular extension, with a ‘w’-like configuration. There are no vertical stabilizers or other separate tail surfaces. The broad fuselage would appear to offer a fairly significant capacity for internal fuel and stores, although details of a weapons bay are not apparent in the available underside view.
>In all views thus far, the aircraft is seen with its tricycle-type landing gear extended, and it may feature twin-wheel nose gear, which would be indicative of a heavier design, or perhaps one intended for carrier operations.
Implessive:
https://www.twz.com/air/new-chinese-stealth-tactica-jet-breaks-cover
>A high-performance, highly autonomous uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) with collaborative ‘loyal wingman’ capabilities is a major possibility. Still, based on the design, this could very well be yet another 6th-generation crewed jet — one that is similar to, or even would compete more directly with Shenyang’s J-XDS (also nicknamed the J-50 by some) fighter rather than Chengdu’s massive J-36 super-heavy tactical jet.
>This latest development once again underscores the frantic pace of Beijing’s military aerospace developments, which include activities across a wide range of drone programs as well as advanced crewed types.
>The aircraft seen in the recently emerged images has a notably pointed forward fuselage and nose section that blends into the mid-set wing midway down the fuselage. The highly swept wing has cropped tips, and the trailing edge features a prominent triangular extension, with a ‘w’-like configuration. There are no vertical stabilizers or other separate tail surfaces. The broad fuselage would appear to offer a fairly significant capacity for internal fuel and stores, although details of a weapons bay are not apparent in the available underside view.
>In all views thus far, the aircraft is seen with its tricycle-type landing gear extended, and it may feature twin-wheel nose gear, which would be indicative of a heavier design, or perhaps one intended for carrier operations.
Implessive:
https://www.twz.com/air/new-chinese-stealth-tactica-jet-breaks-cover
