China’s sky has just given us another track of its air ambition. A plane so radical that costs to guess its function

In the month of June Some images In the sky of China they went viral. The future furtive hunt for the nation appeared on the scene, The J-36and did it clearly leaving behind the clues and indications of a technical ambition rather than remarkable. Now, a month later, another figure has just appeared thundering the sky of Beijing.

But this time it seems something else.

A new device without a tail. Yeah, Recent images They have revealed the existence of a new furtive combat apparatus in the test phase in China, whose Design without tail You have aroused doubts about whether it is a man -generated manned plane or an advanced combat drone with functions From “Loyal Wingman”. Although it is not clear if the aircraft has a cabin, the model presents features of a design of great sizepossibly manned, with wide fuselage and significant fuel capacity and internal armament.

The absence of cola vertical surfaces, the wings in configuration with a “W” -shaped escape edge and the integration of twin air inputs suggest an effort by Maximize rankiness. The double wheel front landing train and the data probe in the Morro point to an early test of tests, but also to a considerable weight design, even suitable for aircraft carrier operations.

Odds. The fact that the device shows similar characteristics TO CHENGDU J-36but in a seemingly more compact format, it has led to speculate that it could be a direct competitor of the SHENYANG J-XDS/J-50as part of the struggle between the two main aeronautical houses of China. This hypothesis makes sense if it is considered that The J-36due to its size and conception, it does not compete in the same segment as the J-XDs.

A derivative smaller, bimotor And optimized as more traditional mission hunting, would fit in Chengdu plans to diversify its range and rival Shenyang. The possibility that it is an optimized design is also considered For aircraft carrier or of a sixth generation hunt in medium version, although the scale of the device cannot be determined with the available images.

The alternative of a drone. Another interpretation indicates that this model could be one of several Chinese projects inspired by the American program of Collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). In that case, it would not be a manned plane but A high performance UCAV With advanced autonomy, designed both to operate together with manned fighters and for independent long -range missions.

Experts like Andreas Rupprecht They have identified Similarities and differences with other designs “without a tail” detected recently, which reinforces the idea that China simultaneously develops multiple prototypes of furtive drones, informally known as “tea cups”in contrast to the manned fighters nicknamed “teapots”. The diversity of configurations (from Deltas modified to diamond wings and mixed configurations) suggests that the country experiments with several solutions before consolidating an operational fleet.

Tests and indications. Plus: The revelation of this new plane coincides with satellite images taken in Yangfangnear Beijing, where at least five different designs of CCA drones were identified in preparation for the September 3 parade, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan in World War II. Among them you can see models 9 to 12 meters long, some without tail and others with more traditional configurations, partially camouflaged under canvases.

The same base also houses Balistic and UCAVS missile launches already known, such as the GJ-11 Sharp Swordwhich reinforces the idea that the parade will publicly exhibit the new generation of unmanned combat systems. In parallel, another large fuselage appeared in Shenyang’s plantwith a modified Delta design, which adds more unknowns about the different ongoing programs.

China vs.euu. It We have counted. The accelerated rhythm of the Chinese military aerospace industry It is undeniableand this new plane (whether or not manned) demonstrates Beijing’s ability to generate Strategic surprise In a recurring way. In this field, the comparison with Washington is inevitable: the American Air Force currently develops The YFQ-42a of General Atomics and YFQ-44a de Andurilwith flights planned for next year and with an approach based on iterative design and deployment cycles.

China seems to be emulating this modelmultiplying prototypes and moving rapidly in autonomy, AI and swarm capabilities. The biplaza fighters J-20s They have been profiled as drone swarm controllers, while early alert planes KJ-500 either H-6 bombers They are intended to become key nodes of this manned-nokened collaborative network.

The strategic importance. Although it is not yet known with certainty if the new plane is a sixth generation hunting or An advanced UCAVthe truth is that China is developing a Range of platforms ranging from disposable drones to long -range pools. If it is confirmed that it is an unmanned plane, the model could constitute a more powerful and autonomous version than The GJ-11with the ability to accompany To the futures H-20, J-36 and H-6 in Missions of great action radius.

If instead it was a new manned fighter, industrial rivalry would be consolidated Between Shenyang and Chengdu and would reinforce China’s jump towards a diversified fleet of sixth generation. In both cases, the message is clear: Beijing accelerate your advance In air combat technologies and seeks to reduce the gap with the West, positioning itself as a power capable of combining furtive aviation, AI and collaborative operations in a single air war ecosystem of the future.

Image | X

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