Two newly unveiled Chinese aircraft represent a significant push for 21st-century air dominance, according to military expert Mikhail Khodarenok.
Videos and images of two new Chinese aircraft, believed to be the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jets, surfaced online following their maiden flights on December 26th. While China has not officially commented, the event has sparked considerable international interest among aviation experts.
Retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok, a former member of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, described the development as a serious attempt to achieve air superiority in the 21st century and a substantial propaganda win against the US. He cautioned, however, against making assumptions based solely on the aircraft’s appearance.
The larger aircraft is a tailless, roughly diamond-shaped design with three engines and a sophisticated yaw control system incorporating split rudders. Accompanied by a Chengdu J-20 fifth-generation fighter, it appears considerably larger and bulkier, suggesting a substantial internal weapons bay. This aircraft could potentially fulfill a fighter-bomber role, similar to the Sukhoi Su-34 or the F-15E.
The smaller aircraft boasts an arrow-wing design with two engines and no tail, employing what seems to be fully-movable vertical stabilizers for control. It was seen alongside a Shenyang J-16 multirole strike fighter, a Chinese derivative of the Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30. This aircraft is likely designed for air superiority. Some experts hypothesize that the two planes may be competing prototypes from Chengdu and Shenyang, developed under the same program.
Two for the price of one. Looks like Shenyang unveiled its own design today. Competition for the JH-XX award, or for another program?
— Mike Yeo 杨启铭 (@TheBaseLeg)
“China has launched a serious bid for 21st-century air dominance. China’s air power, soon to be built around these next-generation aircraft, will undoubtedly serve as a tool to influence its adversaries,” Khodarenok stated, emphasizing that these sixth-generation fighters represent only an initial step.
However, it remains premature to definitively classify these new aircraft as ‘sixth-generation.’ The definition itself is still fluid, lacking universal agreement. Khodarenok highlighted that the capabilities of modern aircraft are not solely determined by their airframe or onboard systems (radar or avionics), but rather by an integrated communication system that networks various weapons.
“According to military theorists, the outcome of modern air battles will hinge on battlefield awareness. Modern fighters don’t engage in high-speed chases,” he explained. “Even the best radar is ineffective without a sophisticated combat management information system, such as the Autonomic Logistics Information System found in the F-35,” he added.