01-12-2025, 05:28 PM
(12-26-2024, 02:42 PM)Zaphod58 Wrote: There is zero evidence this is either 6th Gen or a fighter other than not having a tail. This is almost certainly JH-XX, and will perform an FB-111 type mission. It may have some air to air capability but that doesn’t make it a fighter any more than the B-21 is.
That's my take also. I'm sure its radar cross-section is reduced just because of the lack of tail surfaces, but it doesn't look all that stealthy overall.
Given the cranked wing leading edges and the overall aspect ratio I would surmise it's designed for super cruise at around Mach 2, but they have to do it the brute force way by adding an extra engine instead of with high-tech engine design. That will give it the range and speed to be able to confront US forces in the Phillippine Sea out beyond Taiwan and the rest of the first island chain, but at the cost of endurance.
