People's Liberation Army Air Force (China)

Latest in People's Liberation Army Air Force (China)

China’s Massive WZ-9 Divine Eagle Drone Now Operating From South China Sea Base
Air

China’s Massive WZ-9 Divine Eagle Drone Now Operating From South China Sea Base

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 25, 2025

New imagery has appeared showing the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter carrying external air-to-air missiles, mirroring the so-called ‘beast mode’ that we’ve seen on U.S. fifth-generation fighters.
Air

China’s J-20 Fighter Is Now Flying In ‘Beast Mode’

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Feb 10, 2025

A newly emerged photo of the still-mysterious Chinese tailless combat aircraft, likely from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which first appeared last month, provides a better view of the rear aspect of the jet. This would appear to confirm that the aircraft’s outer wing sections, as we had previously suggested, act as moving control surfaces.
Air

China’s Mysterious Tailless Stealth Fighter Has Swiveling Wingtips

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 27, 2025

Analysis of china's new stealth tailless fighter aircraft
Air

What China’s Next Generation Stealth Jet Reveal Really Means

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 15, 2025

Pictures have emerged of what looks to be the first known example of a new Chinese airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the four-engine Y-20 cargo plane commonly referred to as the KJ-3000.
Air

China’s New Domestically Developed Y-20 Airborne Early Warning Jet Spotted

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 27, 2024

6th gen flying wing aircraft china
Air

China Stuns With Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet’s Sudden Appearance (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Dec 26, 2024

It appears that another new Chinese combat aircraft design has entered flight testing. Imagery of the previously unseen aircraft began to circulate on social media today, only a matter of hours after the first appearance of a remarkable diamond-shaped tailless combat aircraft design, thought to be a Chengdu product.
Air

Yes, China Just Flew Another Tailless Next-Generation Stealth Combat Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 26, 2024

China’s H-20 Stealth Bomber Unlikely To ‘Debut’ Until 2030s, According To U.S. Intel
Air

China’s H-20 Stealth Bomber Unlikely To ‘Debut’ Until 2030s, According To U.S. Intel

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 18, 2024

Visitors view a model of the aviation industry J-35A stealth fighter jet at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Expo in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China, on November 10, 2024.
Air

New Version Of Chinese PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Tailored For Stealth Fighters Revealed

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 11, 2024

China’s mysterious CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone seems to have reappeared, although with a notably different look to it and a very impressive size.
Air

China’s Stealth CH-7 Long-Endurance Drone Emerges

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 8, 2024

A new large jet-powered Chinese armed drone said to have a 10-ton maximum takeoff weight, or a mockup thereof, has emerged, and the design looks to be at least configurable to be a swarm mothership.
Air

New Heavyweight Chinese Jet Drone Looks To Be A Swarm Mothership

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 6, 2024

China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter Officially Breaks Cover
Air

China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter Officially Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 5, 2024

Popping China's Anti-access bubble with the AIM-174
Air

How The Navy’s New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Missile Could Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble

18:41

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 3, 2024

Collins Aerospace has put forward a vision for what a high-end air combat engagement between the U.S. and Chinese armed forces, with the American side employing crewed fighters and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingmen, could look like in the future.
Air

What American Fighters And Their Drone Wingmen Fighting Chinese Jets Might Look Like

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 20, 2024

The U.S. Air Force has no plans to acquire stealthy uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) capable of operating with very high degrees of autonomy independently of crewed aircraft, at least in the near term publicly, despite surging Chinese developments in this domain.
Air

No Flying Wing UCAVs Being Developed By U.S. Air Force While China Surges Ahead

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 17, 2024

We have just gotten our clearest view so far of a Chinese J-20 stealth fighter powered by the definitive WS-15 domestically produced engines. While the appearance of the photo at this point raises a number of questions, it’s meanwhile clear that the significant shortcoming of the J-20 — its powerplant — appears to have now been addressed.
Air

Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines 

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 9, 2024