Amid reports of announcement of the US plans to build its sixth-generation aircraft, known as Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) the mysterious sixth-generation fighter jet of China, J-36, made a second public appearance.
A few months ago, the Chinese sixth-generation fighter jet reportedly made its first public appearance, fling along with a J-20S fifth-generation fighter. Now, military observers claim that massive fighter aircraft flew solo although there is no official confirmation on the public appearance of J-36.
Some reports suggest that the latest flight of the sixth-gen fighter without a chase plane could mean that the landing gear and the aerodynamic capabilities of J-36 are being tested.
Although the details about the sixth-gen fighter of China continue to remain mostly speculative, Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping has been quoted as saying that the new aircraft is making "smooth progress with test flights in short intervals."
The first flight test of the tailless stealth fighter, built by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, was conducted by the end of December.
A bulgarianmilitary report suggests that the jet appears to have features that are associated with the sixth-generation fighters, including stealth, enhanced sensors and the capability to seamlessly integrated with unmanned systems. The wingless design also makes it tough to detect, giving it yet another edge in the stealth game.
The unusual three-engine setup and the substantial size—about 22.5 meters in length and wingspan of 24 meters—of the aircraft indicates that the it can carry a huge amount of payload for extended missions. Although it is not yet clear if J-36 is a fighter or bomber, some analysts believe that it could be a designed for multi-role missions.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing will build the Air Force's future fighter jet—F-47—which will serve as quarterback to a fleet of future drone aircraft designed to be able to penetrate the air defences of China and any other potential adversaries. They will replace Lockheed Martin's aging twin-engine, all-weather, supersonic stealth fighter aircraft F-22 Raptor, a major component of the Global Strike Task Force.