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CHILLING footage shows the moment China’s new “UFO-style” stealth fighter jet is spotted for the first time since December.
The menacing war machine and sixth-generation fighter jet has been described by experts as a “super weapon” and the “most advanced ever”.
Footage originally uploaded to Chinese social media site Weibo showed the eerie stealth jet circle round in the grey sky ominously.
The impressive and unique new build was first seen in December last year, leaving viewers amazed and also frightened.
The first test flight came on December 26, thought to have been deliberately chosen to coincide with the birthday of infamous Chinese leader Mao Zedong, who founded the People’s Republic of China.
The fighter jet has been unofficially dubbed as the J-36, with new video footage showing its second public test flight.
In the dramatic footage, the jet is seen flying over an overcast urban area, performing sharp and acrobatic turns.
Its triangle-body resembles a UFO, and at times moves like an alien spaceship as it darts around in angular movements.
The large surface area of the jet also gives it a behemoth presence in the skies.
Its iconic silhouette is emphasised by its tailless body – which means the jet uses computers rather than vertical stabilisers to maintain control.
Another crucial advantage of the tailless design is that it makes the stealthy jet much harder to detect with radar.
This will give it a significant edge in stealth missions over other jets which have traditional tails.
The craft is also more aerodynamic and is extremely flat, reducing drag and helping it endure longer-lasting flights.
Old and new footage suggest the prototype jet is around 70ft.
The jet is also believed to feature a three-engine configuration, with the third engine being placed above the fuselage.
Many other countries including the U.S. have been racing to obtain a sixth generation fighter jet, and China’s test flight of the “J-36” in December was hailed as a massive achievement for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Race to create 6th Generation fighter jets
Sixth-generation fighter jets are the most advanced aircraft design – one up on the fifth generation jets already deployed by various airforces.
Multiple countries have been known to be attempting to develop a sixth-generation fighter, including China, the US and Russia.
Other countries have joined forces on sixth-gen projects, such as the UK, Japan and Italy in the Global Combat Air Programme, and France, Germany and Spain with FCAS.
Sixth-generation fighter concepts share several distinct characteristics, such as the inclusion of AI and advanced stealth capabilities.
If the jet spotted in the video footage is indeed a sixth-generation fighter jet, then China appears to have taken a significant step forward at the front of the race.
The debut of the J-36 jet challenges US superiority in the skies and could have serious implications for India, which currently lacks a stealth fighter jet.
It is anticipated the US will deploy its first sixth-generation fighter to the field around 2030.
Euan Graham, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the new designs “show the willingness of China’s aviation industry to experiment and innovate”.
“Whatever the merits or demerits, it appears to be a highly original design,” he said.
“They deserve kudos for that, and should shake off any lingering complacency that the U.S. and its allies always set the pace.”
The innovative design has not been officially announced by China, but was reported by state media outlet Global Times.
