Written by Jerry Doyle
(Reuters) – Blurry images of what appear to be two new Chinese military aircraft with hidden characteristics appeared online on Friday, and defense experts said they were clearly advanced designs, but there were not enough details to draw final conclusions.
Both designs are rearless, meaning they don't have vertical stabilizers to help maintain control. These aircraft are usually maintained stable by computers that interpret the pilot's control inputs.
The larger of the two designs is roughly diamond-shaped, with three air inlets for its engines – two alongside the fuselage and one at the top – a highly unusual configuration. The smaller one has a more traditional design, but no tail.
Both lack the 90 degree angles typical of covert formation, which are designed to reduce radar detection.
As China modernizes its military, the designs “demonstrate the Chinese aviation industry’s desire to experiment and innovate,” said Euan Graham, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
“Whatever the advantages or disadvantages, it seems to be a very original design,” he said. “They deserve credit for that, and they should shake off any complacency that the United States and its allies always set the pace.”
The Chinese Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US Department of Defense said it was “aware of the reports” but said it had no additional comment beyond what was stated in its annual report on the Chinese military this month.
Sixth generation fighter aircraft
The United States has gone through years the next (LON:) Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which is developing a sixth-generation fighter jet, but it is not clear what form the effort will take under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Europe and Asia are cooperating to produce a separate next-generation aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme, and recently announced a joint British-Japanese company.
Reuters confirmed a video showing the larger of the two new Chinese aircraft flying over Chengdu by matching nearby buildings, signs, logos and trees with satellite images and image files. The date could not be independently verified.
The Chinese planes seen in photos online are not the first modern designs without a tail. the Northrop Grumman (NYSE:) The B-2 and B-21 stealth bombers are both flying wings, and many unmanned aircraft, such as Lockheed Martin (NYSE:) RQ-170 and Chinese CH-7, lack tails.
None of the Chinese aircraft has been officially named. Although the designs are new to the rest of the Chinese fleet, it is not possible to know how stealthy they are, how maneuverable or fast they are, or what kind of avionics they carry “under the hood” – the kinds of details needed to spot them. Five defense experts said they would determine whether these designs actually represent “next generation” designs.
Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute in Australia, noted that it has generally been difficult to apply designations such as fifth generation – which includes current stealth aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35 – to Chinese aircraft. Which often include unique design features that are never seen again.
The Chinese J-20 and J-35 also have stealth characteristics but their capabilities are not publicly known and only the J-20 is in service.
The United States is pouring resources into advanced missiles and other systems to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region. It recently tested a missile interception system on the strategically important island of Guam using advanced radar.
Kelly Greco, a senior fellow at the US-based Stimson Centre, said China's daytime flights of the new designs over cities where they could be easily seen were “weird”.
She said it may be easier for China to keep up with the United States in aircraft rather than unmanned vehicles and missiles.
“As the Pentagon is actively discussing the future of NGAD, it is hard not to wonder if this is Beijing’s attempt to influence that debate,” she added.
Separately, Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday that the People's Liberation Army Navy had launched its newest amphibious assault ship.
