China has unveiled two new so-called sixth-generation fighter aircraft designed to demonstrate technological prowess and overawe its potential adversaries, but which could be much less.
The first model to appear was produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. It is a large single-seat fighter using a tailless design to reduce its radar cross-section. It also had an unusual air intake system that caused aviation hearts to flutter.
Maybe the aircraft’s most unusual feature is its air intake arrangement. It appears to have an air intake on top of the fuselage, as well as twin intakes on either side of the lower fuselage. This has already led to speculation that the aircraft may have a highly unorthodox three-engine arrangement. Unconfirmed rumors point to a powerplant comprising three domestically produced WS-10C turbofans, as used in the J-20. Considering…
