Chinese experts are actively working on the sixth generation fighter. Its creation may be completed by 2035 - but, perhaps, even earlier. This was stated by the chief designer of the Design and Research Institute of Aviation Engineering in Chengdu Wang Haifeng, who participated in the design of the J-10 and J-20 fighter jets.
No country in the world has yet determined the precise parameters that the 6th generation aircraft must meet. Experts speak only about some properties that must be met by machines of this class. That is, airplanes must meet the following requirements: improved stealth, economical fuel consumption, high maneuverability and develop hypersonic speed.
Haifang believes that the 6th generation Chinese aircraft will be able to control several autonomous vehicles. The on-board equipment will be built on the wide use of artificial intelligence.
It is not excluded that the new aircraft will take on board a laser and hypersonic weapon. Traction and maneuverability will provide an adaptive engine. This machine will be able to work offline, but if necessary, several aircraft can be combined into one combat group that can solve various combat missions. But the final list of properties of the aircraft is not fully formed.
Some details
State Aviation Corporation AVIC announced the completion of the construction of the FL-62 transonic wind tunnel. It will be used to test the mockups of the new fighters. The channel volume of this installation is 17 thousand cubic meters.
Meanwhile in Europe
Last week, Dassault Aviation and Airbus signed the first research contract. They will be held within the program "Air combat system of the future." The program involves the development of the next generation combat aircraft. This program was announced in 2018.
