Breaking: China’s 6th-gen stealth fighter takes first flight

By Boyko Nikolov On Dec 26, 2024

At around 4:00 PM China Standard Time on December 26, the Chengdu-based 611 Design Institute, in collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, conducted the first test flight of what appears to be a sixth-generation demonstrator.

Social media lit up with videos showing the mysterious aircraft flanked by a two-seat J-20, China’s fifth-generation fighter. Freeze frames from the footage, along with zoomed-in shots, have already revealed some intriguing details.

First and foremost—the demonstrator features a double-delta wing configuration, a design that immediately raises questions about its role and capabilities. China’s new double-delta wing configuration is a serious contender to change the rules of aerial warfare.

This aerodynamic design, combining two distinct sections with different sweep angles, is built for one purpose: peak performance at both supersonic speeds and in close-quarters dogfights. While standard delta wings offer stability at high speeds, the double-delta wing takes things further, enabling smooth transitions across various flight regimes.

But it’s not just about agility. With a smaller sweep angle on the forward section of the wing, this design delivers exceptional control at low speeds—a critical capability in the high-stakes “cat and mouse” game of air combat. The design also slashes drag, boosting fuel efficiency and providing a key tactical advantage: longer endurance in the skies.

When it comes to stealth, Chinese engineers didn’t miss a beat. The geometry of the double-delta wing is crafted to scatter radar signals away from enemy sensors. Paired with the seamless integration of the wing and fuselage, this design minimizes the radar signature to nearly nothing.

Add advanced airflow management to the mix, which effectively masks the engine’s heat emissions, and you’ve got an aircraft that’s tough to spot on radar or infrared sensors.

In the end, the double-delta wing isn’t just a technological flex—it’s a bold claim for air superiority. China’s development sends a clear message: the future of aerial warfare will be defined by speed, stealth, and ruthless maneuverability.

Second – there is no tail, completely unheard of in today’s combat aircraft. The absence of a tail on this new sixth-generation demonstrator is no coincidence—it’s a game-changing design choice with huge implications for both aerodynamics and stealth.

By eliminating the vertical stabilizer, engineers have crafted a cleaner, more streamlined shape that slashes drag and maximizes efficiency. This isn’t just about cutting fuel consumption; it’s about enabling blistering speeds and extending operational range—exactly what’s needed for deep-penetration missions.

But here’s where it gets even more interesting: without a tail, the aircraft relies entirely on advanced fly-by-wire systems and adaptive aerodynamics to maintain stability. This allows for incredibly aggressive maneuvers, the kind that could leave any fifth-gen adversary scrambling to keep up.

With all lift generated by the integrated wing-body design, the load is distributed more evenly, pushing aerodynamic efficiency to new heights.

On the stealth front, this tailless design is a masterstroke. Traditional tails are radar magnets, reflecting signals back to enemy sensors. Removing it means fewer reflective surfaces and a radar signature that’s practically a ghost.

It’s the same story with infrared visibility: no tail means reduced turbulence and better thermal management, making it harder to detect with heat-seeking systems.

Combine this with the double-delta wing configuration, and it’s clear this aircraft is built to dominate. Designed for speed, stealth, and relentless maneuverability, this demonstrator screams next-gen air superiority. It’s not just a technological leap—it’s a bold statement about where the future of aerial combat is headed.

The today video showcases China’s progress in the development of its sixth-generation fighter, putting the nation squarely in the race against the U.S. for air superiority. While Washington has claimed to have a sixth-gen demonstrator since 2020, China has reportedly been working at breakneck speed to catch up, with their first demonstrator reportedly emerging in 2022.

Western analysts predict that China could field their next-gen fighter at almost the same time as the U.S., with only a year or two separating the two. But here’s where it gets interesting: while today’s flight may be the first publicly documented test, it’s likely the second flight of this mysterious demonstrator.

Back in January 2023, U.S. intelligence revealed a silhouette spotted over China’s 611 Institute, showing a tail-less, double-delta wing design—eerily similar to the one seen in today’s footage.

The race for sixth-gen air superiority just took a new turn—and China is making moves that could shake the global balance of power. At the Zhuhai Air show in November 2022, Beijing unveiled a striking transparent model of what could be their next-generation fighter, sparking speculation that they’re already ahead of schedule.

This new aircraft is nothing like anything seen before—a tailless delta-wing design that could redefine stealth and maneuverability.

Forget traditional tail stabilizers—this fighter relies on advanced aerodynamic principles and thrust-vectoring engines to stay agile and lethal. The fact that it ditches a horizontal or vertical tail structure isn’t just bold; it signals China’s serious intent to leapfrog existing air combat paradigms.

Reports are now suggesting this fighter might even feature retractable canards, further cementing its reputation for next-level design.

But the real question is: just how much of this design is original? Western experts aren’t convinced. Some argue this isn’t Chinese ingenuity at work but rather a calculated copy of the U.S. Air Force’s NGAD [Next-Generation Air Dominance] program.

And the U.S. isn’t staying quiet on the matter. General Mark Kelly of the U.S. Air Force has already flagged this potential “plagiarism” as a serious threat, warning that China’s rapid adaptation of advanced technologies could give them an edge in the coming aerial arms race.

While the U.S. focuses on improving existing platforms, China’s strategy appears to be one of adaptation and rapid advancement.

Their sixth-gen fighter program, labeled J-XX by analysts, could turn out to be a far more agile and reactive competitor than anything the U.S. is currently fielding. If this is what Beijing has planned, the future of air combat could look a whole lot different than we expect.

For now, we’ll call this demonstrator the J-XX—a name U.S. analysts have been using to track Beijing’s next-generation fighter program. But one thing is for certain: with its rapid developments, China’s push into sixth-gen fighter territory will keep Washington on its toes.