Fits IMO perfectly to what we expect how the future PLAAF fighter could or even will look like and much more reasonable than the just recently unveiled artwork in that promotional video!
PLA next/6th generation fighter thread
- Thread starter Blitzo
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Fits IMO perfectly to what we expect how the future PLAAF fighter could or even will look like and much more reasonable than the just recently unveiled artwork in that promotional video!
AVIC: How much wing area do you want?
PLAAF: Yes.
These two parts of the video are also indicative.
Looks like the same tailless fighter planform we've seen before over the last few years.
Yang Wei, chief engineer of the J-20, defined the sixth-generation aircraft during the interview.
1. It can be transformed according to the flight height and space
2. It can break through the traditional space to conduct transatmospheric operations, and carry out space or suborbital bombing operations.
3. Based on the intelligent skin, the fuselage can be repaired automatically, with sensors...
In other words, China's future sixth-generation aircraft will be intelligent aerospace fighters capable of deformation and self-repair
oh please, do you seriously believe that is authentic?
I would be surprised if that referred to the 6th generation fighter by international standards, and I suspect it is likely to more refer to "7th generation" instead.
The idea of the upcoming 6th generation fighter that we are expecting to emerge later this decade, being a near space fighter with fuselage self repair, seems somewhat unlikely.
Extending from @Blitzo's explanation, China's way of classifiying fighter jet generations has always been one step lower than the rest of the world.
Fighter Jet Models | International Classification | Chinese Classification |
| F-4, F-111, MiG-21, Su-17, J-7, J-8 | 3rd-generation fighter | 2nd-generation fighter |
| F-15, F-16, Su-27/30, MiG-29, J-10, J-11/16 | 4th-generation fighter | 3rd-generation fighter |
| F-22, F-35, Su-57, J-20, J-35/31 | 5th-generation fighter | 4th-generation fighter |
| NGAD, F/A-XX, FCAS, GCAP | 6th-generation fighter | 5th-generation fighter |
Therefore, I suppose that the "6th-generation fighter" referred by Yang Wei in the post is actually "7th-generation fighter" in the broader (international) sense of discussion (which is what being used in this forum).
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The generation thing was changed as of late last year wasn't it? PLAAF spokesperson referred to J-20 as 5th generation fighter:
One example does not mean they have changed the whole nation's manner of categorization, it means that they've used the international generation system once.
More importantly, reading this supposed statement about a "6th generation fighter" it does not seem consistent with the sort of technologies and characteristics we would expect out of the PLA's 6th gen efforts or what they would be capable of developing in the timeframe we've been expecting.
Things to first establish:
1. Did Yang Wei actually say what is written (what's the original source)?
2. If he did say it, then does it actually refer to 6th generation by the international standard or the Chinese generational standard they've used before?
3. If it hypothetically does refer to 6th generation by the international standard, does the characteristics of the aircraft described even make any sense to begin with?