New Videos Suggest Continued Development and Testing

Hype or Reality?

The Chinese military has sparked speculation about the development of its next-generation fighter jets, with recent social media posts and a music video hinting at progress.

In December 2024, images and videos of an alleged sixth-generation fighter jet, nicknamed the "ginkgo leaf" due to its shape, emerged online. The aircraft was seen with its landing gear lowered and accompanied by a J-20S fighter jet.

More recently, a video on the official Weibo account of the PLA Eastern Theater Command showed a ginkgo leaf and a bird, further fueling speculation about the new aircraft. The bird resembles another new aircraft that appeared on social media in December 2024.

While the authenticity of the videos and images remains unverified, Chinese military experts believe they could indicate progress in the development of the new aircraft.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, said the retracted landing gear in the recent video suggests smooth progress with test flights. Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, believes the short interval between test flights and the retraction of landing gears could show the developers' confidence in the aircraft's flight stability.

China has not officially announced the development of next-generation fighter jets, but there have been hints. In 2022, a concept model of a next-generation fighter jet with a tailless design similar to the "ginkgo leaf" aircraft was displayed at Airshow China.

Wang Ya'nan believes that what people now call the sixth-generation fighter jets might be demonstrators developed to explore options for China's next-generation fighter jet. He noted that China appears to be testing and learning from multiple demonstrators.

"From a development point of view, China appears to be determined to make explorations on next-generation aviation equipment," Wang said.