Images and videos emerged on December 26, 2024, showcasing the aircraft in flight, accompanied by a Chengdu J-20S fighter. The mysterious aircraft’s design features a tailless configuration, with a diamond-shaped wing and an array of control surfaces, leading to speculation about its role in China’s evolving air fleet.
This new development is part of China’s ongoing push to develop next-generation combat aircraft. The aircraft’s size and unique aerodynamic design suggest it’s intended for long-range operations, with an emphasis on low observability and endurance.
Unlike previous Chinese designs, this aircraft lacks traditional tail surfaces, a move that aligns with stealth-focused trends in Western military aviation, including the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. The tailless design may help reduce radar cross-section and improve fuel efficiency, enhancing its capabilities for sustained high-speed flight.
However, it may come at the cost of manoeuvrability, with a reliance on advanced flight control systems to compensate for the lack of traditional tail control surfaces.