China 6th gen fighter exposed? Looks like the U.S. NGAD fighter concept! More stealthy than J-20

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An interesting photo has surfaced on social media of what appears to be an advanced fighter concept model of a tailless aircraft displayed on screens in office environments in China. It is impossible to confirm whether this image represents an actual advanced fighter, but its layout does represent the overall layout of the trend of sixth generation fighter aircraft design. This may be further evidence that China is indeed focused on developing a tailless sixth-generation fighter, saying the design effort is moving into a more advanced phase.

In October 2021, the US website Warzone reported on the appearance of a tailless aircraft at the airport of Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, one of China's largest fighter jet manufacturers. The latest image was first posted on China's social website Weibo, but few details are known about where or when it was taken.

The latest image appears to have been taken around a flight simulator with the logo of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Unconfirmed reports suggest the simulator may be located at a radio-electronic research institute in eastern China. The simulator is fairly simple, consisting of a desk, simulated flight throttles and side lever controls, and computer monitors. One monitor appears to show a computer-generated view of the cockpit with a head-up display. One of the displays above the simulator shows an image of the tailless aircraft. It is unclear whether the image shows a computer-generated version of the plane or a photograph of a real aircraft. If this is indeed one of the work sites for tailless fighter aircraft, the simulator appears to be running software-controlled flight simulations, possibly to study or verify various characteristics of tailless fighter aircraft, or in connection with the development of cockpit interfaces for future fighter aircraft.

What is certain is that this photo at least proves that the tailless large delta wing design has attracted the attention of China's aviation research institutions, and the fighter aircraft of this layout is very likely to be the overall layout plan of China's next-generation fighter aircraft, that is, the sixth generation fighter aircraft, and it is also very likely to be the latest generation fighter aircraft layout of some other major powers, such as the United States. Last September, the head of US Air Combat Command, General Mark Kelly, said he had confirmed that China was developing a version aimed at the US Air Force's next generation of fighter jets.

On the American side, almost all current sixth-generation fighter design concepts use a tailless large delta wing layout, or a modified layout based on it. One reason is to reduce the strength of the fighter's own radar signature by removing the traditional horizontal and vertical fins, further improving stealth. General Kelly said the new generation of Chinese fighters would be "exponentially" more stealthily capable than the current fleet and, as mentioned earlier, the tailless layout was probably the most critical way to achieve that.

At the same time, the tailless large delta wing arrangement can improve the maneuverability and high speed performance of the fighter due to the low air resistance and low wing load. This also helps to increase the altitude and elevation of the aircraft. The layout also improves aircraft stability and maneuverability.

In both the United States and China, the sixth-generation fighter is seen as a key platform in a comprehensive air combat system, not just a new type of fighter. Therefore, the sixth generation fighter jet is not like the fifth generation fighter jet, such as the J-20, F-22, F-35 fighter jet, it is no longer a separate aircraft type. The sixth generation of fighters could include manned fighters, unmanned aircraft that operate in tandem with them, and other sensor platforms in the air, on the ground and at sea. The tailless aircraft in the Chinese aviation organization, if it is indeed a sixth-generation fighter, will be only one part of China's sixth-generation aircraft system, not the only platform.

Photo and video: Wiki common, Yangshipin site, USAF website, twitter.com/RupprechtDeino