An update on China’s upcoming sixth-gen fighter program

Beijing showed off a variety of its upcoming aircraft at the fifteenth China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has been modernizing and expanding over the last decade as Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to create an unparalleled aerial force.

As part of its ambitions, the state-owned aerospace and defense company Aviation Industry of China (AVIC) is developing a sixth-generation fighter jet. Dubbed the “White Emperor” and characterized as an integrated space-air fighter in China, this next-generation concept is reportedly designed to feature supersonic capabilities that enable it to break through the Earth’s atmosphere for space operation. Right now, the plane is not fully developed but was presented as a mock up.

The Baidi, or White Emperor, is a project from the state-owned aerospace and defense conglomerate AVIC to develop what state media has described as an integrated space-air fighter, the South China Morning Post reported, citing a Chinese state-run media outlet.

“The design concept includes the ability to fly at supersonic speeds and break through the Earth’s atmosphere to operate in space.”

What We Know About the Fighter

China’s sixth-generation fighter was allegedly developed as a platform that optimizes stealth, combat agility, and fast speeds. While detailed specs and capabilities remain highly classified, published images and video footage of the jet showcase sleek, angular designs that emphasize stealth. Specifically, the cockpit canopy features a dark, multi-faceted design which will likely help minimize the aircraft’s reflective signatures.

The jet’s sharp and rounded nose will enable the plane to fly with minimal drag. Also evident in revealed images of the fighter are large internal compartments that will be used to hide lethal weapons from enemy detection.

The White Emperor is being designed to directly compete with the U.S. military’s existing F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. While the Chinese platform should be cutting-edge when introduced, the notion that it could function both in the atmosphere and out of the atmosphere seems unlikely. Until the aircraft enters service with the PLAAF and is used in combat, the true extent of its specs and capabilities will not be uncovered.

NGAD: The U.S. is Working on Its Sixth-Gen Fighter

As tensions continue to mount between Beijing and Washington, prospects for a future full-blown war will increase. The U.S. is also preparing for such a doomsday scenario with the development of its sixth-generation jet.

The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is an upcoming “family of systems” featuring a formidable sixth-gen fighter jet and a slew of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) that will operate as loyal wingmen drones. Similar to China’s White Emperor program, NGAD will prioritize propulsion, stealth, and advanced weapons. The program is on pause right now, but most experts expect some sort of reboot and fielded warplane at some point.

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