Thu Dec 26 16:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Mysterious New Chinese Combat Aircraft Revealed in Online Images

**Beijing, China –** Speculation is rife in the aviation community following the online leak of images and videos purportedly showing two new Chinese combat aircraft. The images, which surfaced on December 26th, 2024 – the 131st anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birthday – show the aircraft in flight, sparking intense debate about their capabilities and roles.

The most striking aircraft is a large, three-engine plane with a distinctive diamond-shaped wing and no vertical tail fins. Its yaw control appears to be achieved via split rudders, similar to the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber. The aircraft features a dorsal and two ventral inlets, with the dorsal inlet incorporating a diverterless supersonic inlet for stealth enhancement. Its large ventral fuselage suggests an internal weapons bay. The landing gear configuration further hints at its potential as a heavy fighter-bomber. Experts, such as Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute, suggest this could be the long-awaited J/H-XX regional bomber, designed for high-altitude precision strikes. However, the possibility of it being a prototype for a sixth-generation fighter remains.

A second, more conventionally designed aircraft, featuring a cranked arrow planform and possibly folding tailfins, also appeared in images, some dated December 22nd. The exact nature and purpose of this second aircraft remain unclear.

The timing of the leaks, coinciding with the anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birthday and the 13th anniversary of the J-20 stealth fighter’s rollout, has not gone unnoticed. While Chinese authorities have yet to officially comment, the lack of censorship surrounding the widely circulated images is also noteworthy. The leaked images align with previously reported Chinese military development programs, including the H-20 long-range stealth bomber and the JH-XX fighter-bomber, as well as a sixth-generation fighter.

The significance of these aircraft remains to be seen. The images, however, provide a tantalizing glimpse into the advancements of China’s aerospace capabilities, adding another layer of complexity to the geopolitical landscape.

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