Chinese 'stealth jet' flies on edge of space and can hit targets in US once out of range
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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.
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.
