Latest news with #TheAviationist
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
06-08-2025
- First Post
Is it a plane or a drone? Why images from China are sparking sixth-gen aircraft rumours
New images have emerged on Chinese social media, sparking speculation about the plane. Some note it to be a carrier-based fighter, while others say it's a 'loyal wingman' drone. However, some point out that it may be Beijing's third sixth-generation fighter jet after the J-36. Here's what we know so far read more Is it a jet, is it a drone — that's the question experts are asking after images of an unidentified stealth aircraft emerged on Chinese social media. At least two images of the aircraft began circulating earlier this week, showing a sleek, tailless design with a lambda-wing layout. Soon after the photos began circulating online, aviation experts began questioning if it was yet another sixth-generation crewed jet — similar to the J-36 — or was it one of its new advanced drones. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We try to get you the answers. What's that in China's sky? Early this week, undated images emerged on China's social media websites, prompting chatter amongst netizens and aviation experts alike. The images taken from various angles from the ground are not clear enough to determine if the aircraft had a cockpit or internal weapons bay. What is clear from the photos is that the new aircraft (at least from silhouettes) seems to show it has a sharply pointed nose merging into fully blended delta wings. It also appeared to have twin-engine intakes and no vertical stabilisers. This indicates that it is some kind of stealth aircraft. It also appeared that the new aircraft had a heavy-duty tricycle landing gear setup (one in the nose, two in the fuselage). NEW: China has developed yet another tailless military aircraft. No details yet. — Clash Report (@clashreport) August 4, 2025 Is it a plane or is it a drone? Soon after the images went viral, many military observers tried to ascertain the design, triggering a debate about whether it is a new piloted warplane or a 'loyal wingman' drone. Some experts pointed out that the images bore a striking resemblance to previously released images of the J-36, China's attempt at a sixth-generation fighter plane, which is believed to be nearly ready for pre-production testing. According to The Aviationist, the images confirm a two-segment trailing edge, with a straight centre section that sharply angles outward before extending to the wingtips. This planform matches the geometry seen in the J-36 design. However, others note that the images bear a resemblance to China's designs of a 'loyal wingman' drone. Andreas Rupprecht, a Chinese aviation expert, in a report by The War Zone noted that new imagery shows one of the country's design of its version of the loyal wingmen programme. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For those who are unaware, 'loyal wingmen' are designed to operate in coordination with piloted planes but are able to make their own tactical decisions using artificial intelligence. At a fraction of the cost of a manned fighter jet, these aircraft are seen as an easy way to scale up military might with a smaller investment. Several nations, including the US and China, are developing loyal wingman drones, with varying degrees of success. What makes many believe that the images point to a drone is that it comes soon after satellite imagery showed several likely designs that should be publicly unveiled at an upcoming parade to be held on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of China's victory over Japan in World War II. Is it yet another sixth generation aircraft? Some analysing the images pointed out that these were proof of China building another stealth aircraft, separate from the J-36. They said that the fuselage in the images was slimmer and it was reportedly smaller too, indicating that the speed of this plane would be much faster than the J-36. This is not the Shenyang J-50 stealth fighter jet or the Chengdu J-36 stealth strike fighter. A third new sixth-generation stealth fighter jet developed by #China was spotted today during its first test flight. This previously unknown aircraft adds a surprising new chapter to… — Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) August 4, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even Rupprecht noted that the images circulated this week were significantly different from those believed to be of the J-36 that emerged last month. Which countries have sixth-generation aircraft? As of now, no country has a sixth-gen aircraft in deployment. However, China and the US are in a battle over sixth-generation jet fighters. Each of them is vying to be the first to field a sixth-generation craft. Earlier, Trump announced that the US has tasked Boeing with making its sixth-generation fighter jet – which he has dubbed the F-47. He further called it the 'most lethal aircraft ever built', adding that a test version of the plane had been flying in secret for years. US President Trump speaks as an image of an F-47 fighter jet is displayed in the Oval Office in Washington. File image/AP Meanwhile, China is reportedly also carrying out test flights of its own sixth-generation aircraft — the J-36. Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the J-36 features a tailless design and a rare three-engine setup. China is also developing another sixth-gen aircraft; this one by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and possibly called the J-50. Reports state that both aircraft are expected to move at speeds beyond Mach 2, and with design tweaks, they can reach top speeds closer to Mach 3, especially at high altitudes where the air is thinner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to The Diplomat, based on the time China took to develop its fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft from prototype to production, it is likely that the two Chinese sixth-generation fighters might join China's Air Force by 2031. With inputs from agencies
India Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
What is China's J-36 stealth warplane being compared to US' B-2 bomber
The US-made B-2 Spirit bombers, commonly known as the B-2 stealth bombers, which have been around for over 35 years, still evoke intrigue among aviation enthusiasts and the public. The capability of the B-2 stealth bombers to go on a 37-hour mission from Missouri, US, to Iran – refuelling multiple times midair – has got interest in the warplane soaring. It has emerged that China, too, is working on a similar stealth warplane -- the decades, only the US possessed a bomber so futuristic it seemed like it was straight out of science fiction. But last Christmas, a silhouette emerged unexpectedly over China's Chengdu city. A super-futuristic aircraft, much like the B-2 Spirit was seen hovering over the city. Six months on, the world is still asking: what exactly are these machines?Defence analysts, aviation experts, and news outlets worldwide have been scrambling to understand this mysterious aircraft. Multiple news outlets, such as UK-based open-source defence intelligence website Janes, and Italy-based military aviation and defence technology platform The Aviationist, have referred to the mysterious Chinese stealth jet as the "J-36".Several photos of the aircraft have gone viral.J-36 STEALTH BOMBER BEING MADE BY CHENGDU AIRCRAFT CORP?US-based The Diplomat magazine said the images and videos making the rounds on social media were captured by individuals on the ground in Chengdu, where the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation factory is earlier this month, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) claimed that the next-generation aircraft has been built by the Chengdu Aircraft is the same company that is behind some of China's latest fighter jets, including the J-10 and JF-17. The export variant of the J-10, the J-10C, was fielded by Pakistan against India in the Operation Sindoor photo of the J-36 in particular, a front-facing image, drew widespread attention and analysis from multiple media photo seems to confirm a twin-seat, side-by-side cockpit layout, with two distinct heads-up displays visible — one for each pilot. This canopy design, if authentic, aligns with other large strike aircraft like the B-2 Spirit or Russia's Su-34 Fullback, The Aviationist in a new photo analysed by The Aviationist, the J-36 appears in a full-frontal view on the flightline, revealing additional design cues. The image, though grainy and possibly taken from a monitor screen, is widely considered to be genuine. Still, leading Chinese military aviation analyst Andreas Rupprecht urged caution, warning that "too many fake images of the J-36 were posted", and this one may be "too good to be true".Yet, that hasn't deterred analysts from drafting full-fledged profiles of the warplane's presumed technology and its official name remains undisclosed, the moniker "J-36" stems from the serial number "36011" seen on the prototype, following the same pattern as the J-20's initial "2001", SCMP aircraft is nicknamed the "Gingko leaf" for its distinctive silhouette. Gingko, notably, is a disease-resistant tree native to China, and has fan-shaped ABOUT CHINA'S J-36, ITS UNORTHODOX DESIGNThe aircraft is reportedly believed to use a delta-wing platform with a tailless to the SCMP, the aircraft features specialised trailing edge control surfaces and split flaps near the wingtips to compensate for the lack of a tail, which typically helps with manoeuvrability. These design choices allow the tailless aircraft to maintain stability and control during SCMP also reported that the aircraft's propulsion system is unusual, consisting of three engines, believed to be modified versions of the WS-10C Taihang engines used in China's J-20 stealth fighters. It even said that future upgrades might include more advanced thrust-vectoring WS-10 engines or the WS-15 Emei, which offer better manoeuvrability and aircraft's air intake layout is also distinct, featuring three differently shaped inlets: one dorsal-mounted diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) on top of the fuselage, and two ventral Caret inlets with adjustable ramps beneath. This configuration is reportedly designed to enhance high-speed airflow and engine petal-style exhaust nozzles, according to the SCMP, resemble those used in the American YF-23 prototypes from the 1980s. These are likely intended to regulate engine heat and reduce infrared visibility, helping the aircraft stay hidden from heat-seeking about the jet's mission role has only OF CHINA'S J-36 HINTS AT ITS ROLE AS A BOMBERThe aircraft was initially seen flying alongside a J-20S chase plane, giving observers a sense of scale. Based on this, the SCMP estimates the J-36 is as long as the 21-metre J-20 but with nearly double the wingspan, suggesting a significantly larger airframe. This expanded size hints at greater internal capacity for fuel, sensors, and weaponry, possibly pointing to a bomber role.A widely circulated theory suggests that the J-36 houses one central weapons bay capable of carrying up to six to eight long-range missiles, flanked by two smaller side bays that could each hold two short-range features, if confirmed, would give the jet a substantially larger payload than the J-20, according to the the aircraft is a regional bomber laying groundwork for the larger Xi'an H-20 subsonic stealth bomber, or a multi-role platform with drone-controlling capabilities, remains to be seen. But what is for sure is that the J-36 is a significant leap in Chinese air warfare ambition.- EndsTrending Reel
Euronews
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Houthis threaten to target US ships in the Red Sea if they participate in any attack on Iran
Yemen's Houthi's said they will target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in any potential attack against Israel in co-operation with Israel, the group announced on Saturday. "We will target US ships and battleships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in theattack on Iran," the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement published by the group's media outlet. Saree emphasised that the group is closely monitoring movement in the region, including what he described as "hostile movements," and will take the necessary measures to protect itself. The group considers any potential Israeli attack on Iran to be aimed at "removing Tehran as an obstacle to an Israeli plan to dominate the region," Saree said, adding that the group will not allow this plan to be implemented. The remarks come a day after the US imposed new sanctions targeting key economic entities linked to the Houthi group. It also comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, where there is speculation about a possible US military strike targeting Iran's nuclear programme. The US military website "The Aviationist" reported that two squadrons of B-2 strategic bombers, which are capable of carrying bunker-busting bombs, left Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Friday morning. They are headed in the direction of the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, without indicating movements towards the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, which was previously used in similar operations. US President Donald Trump announced in May that he had reached an understanding with the Houthi group through Omani mediation to stop naval operations against commercial ships in the Red Sea in exchange for an end to US airstrikes on the group's positions and areas under its control. The Red Sea is a strategically vital area, through which roughly 10 per cent of global trade passes, escalation in the area can have wide economic and security repercussions.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B-2s Have Not Dropped Massive Ordnance Penetrators On Yemen During Diego Garcia Missions: Officials
U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers have not dropped any GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs on Yemen's Houthis since the Trump administration launched a renewed aerial campaign against them, two U.S. officials have told TWZ. Reports in the past day or so had said that MOPs, America's largest conventional bomb, had been employed against the Houthis sometime earlier this month. Even if the 30,000-pound GBU-57/Bs had been dropped on the Yemeni militants, they are relatively prized and specialized weapons, the use of which would likely be extremely selective and very limited in scope. TWZ raised the question of whether B-2s carrying 30,000-pound bunker busters might strike targets in Yemen, in large part to send signals to Iran, after some of the bombers were sent to strike the Houthis last year. The topic came back up again after six B-2s were deployed to the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean as part of a larger build-up of U.S. military forces in and around the Middle East last month. Recent reporting from The Aviationist and multiple outlets saying that MOPs have been used against the Houthis traces to a Fox News television segment yesterday, which prompted TWZ to seek direct confirmation. A U.S. defense official subsequently told us that no MOPs have been employed on targets in Yemen in the past two months. 'Based on current knowledge of what munitions have been used and reports that have made it up the chain of command, my understanding is that the GBU-57 hasn't been used during this ongoing operation,' a second U.S. official also told TWZ. B-2s forward-deployed in Diego Garcia have flown missions targeting the Houthis using other as yet unspecified munitions. The exact mix of munitions B-2s dropped on Yemen during the strikes last year remains unknown. It is also worth noting here that, at the time of writing, the Pentagon has only held one press briefing on the current Yemen campaign since March 17. TWZ has also recently examined satellite images of multiple tunnel complexes in Yemen suspected to be utilized by the Houthis and has seen no signs of major damage. At the same time, a lack of readily visible damage can be indicative of the use of bunker buster bombs, and commercially available satellite imagery has major limitations in spotting fine details that could result from such a strike. None of this precludes the potential for B-2s to drop GBU-57/Bs on Houthi targets in Yemen in the future. As TWZ has highlighted in our past reporting about the recent deployment of the stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, as well as the B-2 strikes on Yemen last year, the MOP is inextricably linked to the signaling power of sending these aircraft to any region. The B-2 is currently the only aircraft certified to operationally employ GBU-57/Bs, the design of which has been and continues to be upgraded, as you can read more about here. A single B-2 can carry just two of the huge bunker-buster bombers. The pairing of the stealth bombers and the MOP gives the United States a unique option for penetrating into heavily defended areas to launch conventional strikes on deeply buried and fortified targets, including ones in Iran. However, while there have been reports of the steady acquisition of additional GBU-57/Bs, as well as work to expand prime contractor Boeing's overall capacity to build the bombs, the total stockpile is still understood to be relatively small. As such, any use of GBU-57/Bs against targets in Yemen would have to be gauged against the need to ensure sufficient stocks of the bombs would still be available for use in the event of other major contingencies. A limited use of MOPs against particularly deeply buried targets would still offer strategic signalling benefits, especially aimed toward Iran, as well as the opportunity to gather data about how well the weapons work in a real-world context. Questions have been raised in the past about whether certain underground facilities in Iran tied to that country's nuclear program might be beyond the reach of MOP, or at least safe from complete destruction from their employment. Negotiations between the United States and Iran over the latter country's nuclear ambitions are now underway, the progress of which will have impacts on any additional messaging using U.S. military capabilities, including possibly dropping MOPs on targets in Yemen. But should the choice be made to attack Iran, those prized, massive weapons will be needed for far more pressing targets than going after stockpiles of Houthi missiles and drones. Contact the author: joe@
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
American Airlines flight from NYC to New Delhi diverted to Rome, escorted by military jets
The Brief Video shows an American Airlines plane landing in Rome with Italian Air Force jets escorting it. The flight, which departed from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and was headed for India, was diverted because of a "possible security concern." An American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi, India, was diverted to Rome, Italy, Sunday over a "possible security concern," the airline said. Video filmed by The Aviationist, David Cenciotti, shows the Boeing 787 being escorted by military jets over Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport on Sunday. Cenciotti told Storyful the two jets were Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons. What we know American Airlines, in a statement provided to LiveNow from FOX, said flight 292 was diverted over a potential security issue that was "determined to be non-credible." According to ABC News, there were 199 passengers on the plane, along with 15 crew members. ABC reports that passengers were taken to the terminal for screening. According to Flightradar24, the plane turned around over the Caspian Sea. American Airlines said the plane was inspected in Rome and cleared to depart. What we don't know American Airlines didn't specify what the security concern was, but ABC News and Reuters report that it was a bomb threat. What's next The airline said the flight will stay in Rome overnight to accommodate required crew rest and would depart for New Delhi on Monday "as soon as possible." The Source This report includes information from American Airlines, Storyful, ABC News and Reuters.
