Chinese Sixth Generation Fighter Jets- Aeronautical Breakthrough or Social Media Hoax?

Doubts over the authenticity of the videos

Test aircraft never fly low over buildings

A jarring factor regarding the videos is that test flights are never held over cities and test aircraft never fly low over buildings- as the “sixth generation” fighters are seen doing in the blurry footage. Rather, videos and images of test flights are released when there is sufficient data to proclaim the tested aircraft as “successful,” as anyone familiar with fighter jet development should know.

What is even more concerning is that why would China, which is particularly guarded regarding its military technology developments, expose its sixth generation fighter so that it could be easily snapped up by amateurs with mobile phones?

The path from a mock-up stage to first flight is rather long and has to go through several key milestones such as engine start-up, instrumentation checks and several ground runs before it is cleared for first flight. At the completion of each stages companies release information regarding the success of the milestone. The AVIC has done so in the past with its J-20 and other fighter jets.

Flying with Landing gear down:

In several of the videos, the aircraft are seen flying with its landing gear down. An aircraft lowers its landing gear only when it is about to land or just after take-off. In one of the videos, the aircraft is seen banking to its right with the landing gear in lowered position.

New Chinese rules on military information a response to sixth-generation fighter videos?

On February 10, the Chinese government announced new rules aimed at “false military information and the leakage of military secrets on the internet”, according to the PLA’s official social media accounts. From March 1 “online military information providers” will be banned from “producing, copying, publishing, or disseminating” previously undisclosed information, including details of weapon systems and military facilities.

The new rules include information about “research and development, production, testing, transportation, equipment status and the maintenance of weapons and equipment, [as well as] the tactical and technical performance of weapons and equipment.”

Chinese officials embarrassed over videos?

The closest to an official comment regarding the videos came from PLA Air Force Deputy Commander Wang Wei:  Asked about the prototypes on the sidelines of the annual political gathering in Beijing on March 5,  Wang Wei said, “So you have all seen that too?” he told a Hong Kong Commercial Daily reporter. Far from a confirmation, the response appears to be wanting to get away from offering any comment.

Chinese new bomber and sixth-gen aircraft mock-up at Airshow China 2024

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled a mock-up of its conceptual sixth-generation fighter jet during the Airshow China 2024. The aircraft has leading edges quite different from the plane in the video and has what appears to be twin engines with flat nozzles. 

In addition, China has an upcoming military aircraft, the H-20 bomber which shown wrapped under sheets during a Peoples’ Liberation Army-Air Force (PLA-AF) promotional video a couple of years ago. Could the aircraft in the promo video be the mystery aircraft that flew on December 26?

It would be truly a wonder if China transitioned from mock-up to first flight in just 3 months that too of a completely different looking plane.  In addition, if the AVIC is so careful as to keep the H-20 bomber under wraps in static display, why would the Chinese aviation firm be so careless to fly its new sixth-generation aircraft all over Chengdu in full public view?

Indian Chief of defense staff sceptical of the new Chinese sixth-generation aircraft

Indian Chief of Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan has cast doubts over the existence of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter jets.

"... by external viewing of an aircraft and that too with a few seconds clip which will not give you an idea that this is a six-generation aircraft. In fact, a large number of countries are pursuing a six-generation program and that’s my personal belief that all of them are some distance away," he stated in a comment to the Economic Times.

Others have questioned the authenticity of the images and videos. An X user, Kyle Bass commented, “China’s new ‘6th Generation Fighter’ is a global PR stunt. Notice overall length of the fuselage then compare that to the placement of the landing gear as well as the length of the landing gear.”

Another X user, Captain Stubie wrote, “Don't mention the landing gears to them. I've already asked them, why has this plane been flying around for 2 days with the landing gears down... .“

Fighter jet with Three Engines?

One of the two Chinese sixth-gen fighters was seen with three engines, according the videos and images. This has set off a storm of speculation as to the how “advanced” the Chinese aircraft technology has become with the installation of three engines in a stealth fighter.

A Russian engine expert from the United Engine Corporation who did not wish to be named told Defensemirror.com at the Aero India 2025 exhibition, "you have to balance the weight penalty and aerodynamic drag that comes with a third engine with the increased thrust it provides. A twin engine layout such as in the Su-57 can provide all the power an aircraft needs. If more power is needed the twin engines can be upgraded with higher thrust. So the practical advantages of a third engine are questionable."

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