A new Chinese fighter jet that can reportedly fly on the edge of space has raised concerns that it can now strike targets in the US once out of range.

The new aircraft was seen alongside China’s current Chengdu J-20 generation of fighters, which are compared to the US Air Force’s F-22. It appeared in social media posts shared online that showed a large, three-engine warplane with a cockpit as well as diamond-style winds that had no vertical tails that could help it avoid being detected by radars.

Defence news website The War Zone claimed the fighter was designed to target US early warning aircraft and tankers that were previously out of reach. The outlet said the aircraft was seen carrying out daytime test flights with its landing gear open, a standard practice during early testing stages.

There are concerns that the fighter jet could strike targets once thought to be out of range ( 
Image:
X)
The War Zone said on its website: “But above all else, if procured in an operation form by the PLAAF, it would be able to fly over long regional distances and loiter for extended periods on station far from home without tanker support – something China lacks in terms of capacity versus the United States.

“It would also presumably be able to do this in closer proximity to threats than any other manned aircraft in China’s arsenal.” According to Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, the aircraft is likely part of China’s development plans for current bombers and strikers rather than a whole new generation of fighter jets.

He added the aircraft does not match the performance expectations that is set by the US and its drive for air superiority. But Bronk added the development could indicate a lead in its tactical airpower capabilities.

Aviation Weekly said the jet’s engines are fed by single dorsal inlets complete with two ventral inlets. Images of the fighter jet also indicated that there are possible missile and bomb loading hatches under the fuselage that further compliment its stealth capabilities.

“Clearly, this aircraft incorporates significantly greater low observable technologies that are a leap ahead of the J-20, beyond its tailless design,” Aviation Weekly went on to say. The website later added: “[It] would seem to reflect an overarching concern with long endurance with comparatively massive internal volume to accommodate a very large fuel load, as well as weapons and sensors.”

According to MailOnline, now-retired US Air Force General Mark D. Kelly said it would not be a surprise if China had been working on a completely new generation of fighter jets. He added the Chinese leadership “are not dummies. They know what they are doing.”

Kelly added he believes the next generation of Chinese air combat programme that will feature an “exponential” improvement to its stealth capabilities.