Kuuenda põlvkonna hävitajad

[Laiakas]

Jäi netis silma, et ameerikamaalased ehitavad juba sellist hävitajat. Lennuki andmeid netist otsida ei suutnud aga ju seal on palju veel ka salastatut.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... oon-207879

[Kilo Tango]

Neid erinevaid "kunstnikunägemusi" on terve nett täis. Jagunevad enam-vähem 4-5 erineva baasmudeli vahel. Ei soovita nendest liigsesse elevusse sattuda. See konkreetne on üsna ebatõenäoline variant, sest ma olen pigem veendunud, et 6G hävitaja ei saa olema parttiivaline ja sirgete õhuvõtukanalitega.

[ruger]

Väidetavalt korraga 2 prototüüpi lendamas

All of a sudden China has not just one but two types of 6th-Gen Fighter prototypes flying

https://x.com/Fighterman_FFRC/status/18 ... 9253735812

Hiina lendav 6-nda põlvkonna hävitaja(d?)...

China Stuns With Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet’s Sudden Appearance

Preliminary special report on China's new 6 gen fighter

This is the most advanced flying machine we have seen out of China, lacking any tails and packing stealth and long range.

In something of a stunning development, China appears to already be flying a stealthy, high-performance, flying-wing, sixth-generation crewed combat aircraft, imagery of which began to emerge today.

At this early stage, we have very little idea about the precise identity of the new aircraft, but many elements of its design are very much in line with what we already knew about Chinese sixth-generation airpower aspirations.

Video and photos that began to circulate today on social media show the previously unseen aircraft conducting a daytime test flight, alongside a two-seat Chengdu J-20S fighter, serving as a chase plane.

The locations and the dates of the various imagery cannot be verified at this stage, although the presence of the J-20 suggests that the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) factory airfield is a likely candidate.

There has also been no official comment from the Chinese Ministry of Defense or state media so far.

Aside from the sheer size of the new aircraft, which we will address in a moment, the most striking thing about it is its planform and tailless configuration. It has a modified delta wing with chine lines emanating all the to the nose area, while its central fuselage section, at least the bottom of it, is reminiscent of the J-20.

The broad nose area could even provide space for side-by-side crew seating, although the limited views of the canopy mean we cannot be sure whether the aircraft has a single-seat or two-seat arrangement, with tandem twin seats being another option.

There was already growing evidence pointing to the fact that China’s next fighter would be tailless, and designs of this kind had previously appeared in the form of technical studies.

Back in October 2021, a mysterious tailless aircraft shape appeared in satellite images of a CAC factory airfield. It was a large modified-diamond-like delta planform with a relatively thin nose section; it also had a significant wingspan — broadly similar to that of a J-20. But it’s worth noting that this shape does not look the same as the aircraft we are seeing.

Beyond that, next-generation tactical combat aircraft eschewing traditional tails is a major design driver being pursued by the U.S., as well. This is predominantly to significantly reduce the aircraft’s radar signature across multiple bands and from all aspects.

There are some aerodynamic efficiencies also to be had with such a design, especially one used for long-range operations via a reduction in aerodynamic drag, which should provide better performance for sustained high-speed dashes and cruising flight.

At the same time, a tailless configuration can adversely affect overall maneuverability, even with the most advanced computerized flight control systems.

There are currently no signs of thrust-vectoring engines on this aircraft, which would help enhance agility and overall stability. The engine exhausts are mounted in the best place to mask the aircraft’s infrared signature, atop the rear of its fuselage.

While a tailless configuration, size, general shaping, and exhaust layout point directly toward a design tailored for stealth and endurance, it’s not entirely clear the exact level of enhanced low observability this new aircraft might offer.

But just deleting the tail surfaces and strakes and providing a more general aerodynamic clean-up, while leveraging the same now nearly 15-year-old technology found on the the J-20, for example, would still be a massive improvement. Clearly, this aircraft incorporates significantly greater low observable technologies that are a leap ahead of the J-20, beyond its tailless design.

Also notable is the elaborate arrangement of control surfaces coupled with the tailless design, with five trailing edge control surfaces per wing. These include prominent split flaps close to the wingtips. These would be used differentially to provide yaw control in the absence of tail control surfaces, as well as deploying simultaneously to serve as air brakes.

In terms of size, the new aircraft can be compared to the J-20 — the imagery suggests it is at least as long. The J-20 is close to 70 feet from nose to tail. In this regard, this design’s twin-wheel main landing gear is also worth noting, providing another pointer to the considerable weight of the aircraft.

Above all, its large size would seem to reflect an overarching concern with long endurance with comparatively massive internal volume to accommodate a very large fuel load, as well as weapons and sensors.

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 the aircraft’s higher gross weight than the J-20, three engines may be necessary in order to meet aggressive performance goals, especially for sustained high-speed flight and operations at high altitudes.

That China has been working on a sixth-generation combat aircraft program is also no surprise.

Back in September 2022, Gen. Mark D. Kelly, who was then the head of Air Combat Command (ACC), said that China was working on the same kind of air combat ‘system of systems’ that the U.S. Air Force is pursuing under its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, including a sixth-generation manned fighter jet.

At the time, Kelly noted that China saw sixth-generation air power, including future manned fighter aircraft, “greatly the way we see it: an exponential reduction in signature, exponential acceleration of processing power and sensing.” Another key factor would be the ability to “iterate” improvements aided by open mission systems, Kelly added.

Regarding a potential successor to the J-20, Gen. Kelly warned that China “are not dummies. They know what they’re doing.”

Kelly also said he expected the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program to include an “exponential” improvement in stealth compared with current platforms.

At this early stage, it’s far from clear whether the new aircraft is a prototype sixth-generation fighter, or perhaps a more generalized demonstrator that will test new technologies that could potentially end up on a variety of different platforms, including a large tactical aircraft much like it.

It seems almost certain that China, for some time now, has been engaged in preliminary testing of different manned fighter configurations. This development work may also include demonstrators, both sub-scale and full-size, and the new aircraft may well be related to it.

The aircraft could also be related to a new regional stealth bomber aircraft, which could potentially be a crewed component tied to the broader Chinese sixth-generation airpower initiative.

The regional bomber program, known as JH-XX, remains very secretive, but you can read more about what is known about that project here. Previously, it was thought that the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation might be working on the JH-XX, in which case a J-20 chase plane, from the rival Chengdu, would seem less likely.

But more likely, at least at this time, this aircraft could be more closely tied to China’s version of America’s Next Generation Air Dominance initiative, which aimed to develop a similar manned heavy ‘fighter’-like aircraft that would work just as much as a command and control node for drones as a classic fighter.

Range, sustained speed in cruise, weapons payload, and low observability are all thought to be top priorities of the manned fighter component of NGAD, or at least were. The fighter element of the program is now on hold and still may be canceled entirely, or end up looking very different, under the Trump administration.

The fact that this exotic aircraft was flying during the day, in an area where it was seemingly easily photographed also tells a lot about the program’s status. It is very likely China intended for this to be seen at this time.

Overall, while so much remains unknown, what we can say about this aircraft definitively is that it’s a large, very heavy, tactical jet that has had a massive premium put on combat radios and survivability. High altitude operations are also likely a feature of this design, especially if it does indeed feature three engines.

But above all else, it should be able to fly over long regional distances and loiter for extended periods on station far from home without tanker support — something China lacks in terms of capacity versus the United States.

In other words, it can put targets in the air, on the ground, and at sea at risk in areas where they won’t expect a threat from a manned combat aircraft, at least based on China’s current inventory.

This has real implications for American tankers, airlifters, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as allied ships and forces operating at forward locales. It would serve as a critical force-multiplying sensor platform operating far forward. Paired with drone wingmen of relevant endurance, its lethality and survivability would be multiplied.

In other words, the existence of this aircraft is a very big deal.

https://x.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1872306810004336810

[ruger]

Euroopa 6. põlvkonna hävitaja kohta

Leonardo hints that the first batch of ordered of the the joint British-Italian-Japanese GCAP 6th-generation fighter jets will consists of 350 planes.

BAE Systems of the UK, Leonardo (Italy) and the Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Company will each hold a 33.3% stake.

https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1904542245719577008

[Gideonic]

Euroopa 6. põlvkonna hävitaja kohta

Leonardo hints that the first batch of ordered of the the joint British-Italian-Japanese GCAP 6th-generation fighter jets will consists of 350 planes.

BAE Systems of the UK, Leonardo (Italy) and the Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Company will each hold a 33.3% stake.

https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1904542245719577008

Sama teema kohta sai siis natukene räägitud ka siin:

Mis riistvarasse puutub siis tegelikult ammu juba Euroopal programmid käimas:

Ühendkuningriik alustas uue lennuki programmi juba 2015:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Tempest

Millest on nüüdseks välja arenenud ÜK, Jaapani ja Itaalia ühisprojekt Global Combat Air Programme:

Demonstraatorit on plaanis lennutada 2027 ja relvastusse jõuab lennuk (heal juhul) 2035.

Sakslastel ja Prantslastel on üle kivide ja kändude teine projekt FCAS millega seis ähmasem ja loodetakse kasutusele võtta 2040. Ühte teist saab kindlasti kiirendada, aga point on see et need asjad ongi 10 aastase vinnaga, ja mingit imet siin ei tee.

[seersant Angua]

Hiinlaste J-36 jäi korraks filmikaadrisse:
https://www.itemfix.com/v?t=18i9d6

[ruger]

EL andis nõusoleku

EU approved a deal between UK's BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo and the Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement to govern the production of a next-generation fighter jet.

The joint venture will manage the design, development and delivery of the next-generation combat aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

Source: FT

https://x.com/clashreport/status/1929538021512102122

[ruger]

Hiina lennukist veel

A new image appearing to show China’s ‘J-36’ 6th generation tactical jet parked on the ground has emerged online. If legitimate, this would be the best front view of the aircraft to date, notably providing clear proof of the canopy design and further confirmation of a side-by-side seating arrangement. What looks to be three open ventral weapons bays, along with nearby personnel, underscore the design’s large size — something of a hybrid between a very heavy fighter and a tactical bomber. You can read more about what is already known about the J-36, as well as the second of China’s 6th generation jets, referred to variously as the J-XDS or J-50, in this past in-depth feature.

https://www.twz.com/air/this-could-be-o ... ctical-jet

[Kriku]

Retired Russian Air Force commander Vladimir Popov told Russia Today on September 16, 2025, that the MiG-41 long-range interceptor has completed its external design phase and is moving toward a prototype flight in the coming years. Developed under the PAK DP program, the aircraft is positioned as the successor to the MiG-31, with the ambition of countering hypersonic missiles, stealth aircraft such as the F-35, and even satellites.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerosp ... ming-years

Tuu om jutt.

[TT69]

Meie keeles kah.

https://tehnika.postimees.ee/8337720/pu ... i-havitama

Venemaa on andnud rohelise tule projektile, mis võib muuta õhusõja reegleid. Vene õhujõudude erukindral Vladimir Popov teatas hiljuti, et kauaoodatud püüdurhävitaja MiG-41 väline disain on lõplikult valmis ning prototüübi esmalendu on oodata juba lähiaastatel. See PAK DP (perspektiivne kaugmaa-püüdurhävitajate kompleks) programmi raames arendatav lennuk ei ole aga päris tühjale kohale sündinud.
Popovi sõnul on tegemist justkui ajakapslist välja võetud ideega, mille juured ulatuvad sügavale 1980. aastate Nõukogude Liitu, kirjutab Army Recognition. Toona peatati ülikõrgel ja suurtel kiirustel lendava püüdurhävitaja arendustööd, kuid vanad joonised on nüüd tolmust puhtaks pühitud ja kohandatud tänapäeva nõudmistele.
Sisuliselt ehitatakse vana vundamendi peale täiesti uut maja, mis on mõeldud vastu astuma 21. sajandi ohtudele: hüperhelikiirusel lendavatele rakettidele, radaritele nähtamatutele F-35 tüüpi varghävitajatele ja isegi luuresatelliitidele.

[vaoinas]

Ulmekirjandus on naaberriigis ikkagi kõrgel tasemel.

[ruger]

USA valimas uue hävitaja tootjat

Sec Def Hegseth has given the green light for the Pentagon to select the contractor for F/A-XX, the US Navy's 6th generation stealth fighter program ~Reuters

The competition is between Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

The Trump Admin had attempted to cancel the program but Congress has increased funding for it and remained adamant that the Navy needs it to compete with China.

https://x.com/ColbyBadhwar/status/1975591872715165818

[Kilo Tango]

No selle võidab Boeing, sest:
1. LMT-l on F-35
2. NG-l on B-21

[ruger]

Reuters kirjutab-lennuki miinimumhind 74 miljonit dollarit.

A funding dispute in the spring and summer between the Pentagon and Congress delayed the program's advancement.
The Pentagon sought $74 million for the jet to keep it on "minimal development funding." Some Pentagon officials had sought to delay the program by up to three years, citing concerns about engineering and supply chain capacity, Reuters reported in May.
Congress and the Navy had wished to move forward with awarding a contract. Congress put $750 million to speed the F/A-XX jet into the massive tax-cut and spending bill which was signed into law this summer. Additionally, Congress earmarked an additional $1.4 billion for F/A-XX in fiscal 2026.
Beyond the funding dispute, there was also debate during the months-long delay about whether defense contractors Northrop and Boeing would struggle to make the jet on schedule.
Defense officials debated whether Boeing could employ enough engineers for the project after it was awarded a contract to build the U.S. Air Force's F-47 jet in March, sources said. They also debated whether Northrop would strain under the ballooning costs of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, aimed at replacing the aging Minuteman III missiles, the sources said.
The quantity of F/A-XX jets, the value and exact timelines of the program remain classified, but previous such contracts - such as that for the F-35 - have been worth tens of billions of dollars over their lifetime.
The U.S. Navy still plans to buy more than 270 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N)

The first production jets are expected to enter service in the 2030s, while F/A-18s are expected to remain in service into the 2040s.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerosp ... 025-10-07/