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| US Air Force Research Lab released a concept of sixth-generation aircraft NGAD |
International Military - Currently, many developed countries around the world are developing their own sixth-generation fighter aircraft. This then highlights countries such as the US, China, to France. There are rumors that China is also doing this although the J-20 Mighty Dragon still has a number of mysteries.
The head of the U.S. Air Combat Command (ACC), General Mark Kelly, has made it clear that the U.S. Air Force must ensure that they field the next-generation fighter first. This is because China is already "on track" to produce a sixth-generation fighter.
Last week, he spoke at the Air and Space Association's Air, Space, and Cyber Conference. “I can't tell you today what's happening in China unless they plan their 20th National Party Congress (in October). But I can tell you what didn't happen. They do not dispute the relevance of six-gene air dominance. And I can also tell you they are on the right track," he said.
These comments come as the United States is pursuing its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program in earnest. At the heart of NGAD is a manned sixth-generation stealth fighter with advanced and never-before-seen capabilities.
This shows concern among USAF top brass about China's unknown sixth-generation program, none of which is out in the public domain.
NGAD itself is an ambitious sixth-generation fighter jet program from the US. So mysterious and ambitious, NGAD was not publicly published. On the other hand, China is currently working on the FC-31 fighter jet project.
Quoted from Navy Recognition, the FC-31 is a twin-engine, single-seat multi-role fighter jet that serves the demands of the future battlefield environment. It is 17.3 meters long and has a wingspan of 11.5 meters, according to an info leaflet by its maker Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in 2018.
The Shenyang FC-31 provides outstanding maneuverability, stealth features and internal weapons bays, in addition to superior avionics and sensors. This gives it enhanced situational awareness, enhanced radar tracking and targeting capabilities, and an integrated electronic warfare system.
The FC-31 is also being manufactured by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, an affiliate of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Development of the FC-31 is continuing, and modifications are likely to be carried out on a flight test basis, including the installation of new engines and other equipment.