CDS Gen Anil Chauhan questions China's 6th generation fighter aircraft claim

CDS General Anil Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday raised doubts over China's claim related to sixth-generation fighter aircraft, saying that they are still in the developmental stage.

He further added that many countries are pursuing a sixth-generation program and that he believes that all of them are some distance away. The CDS also emphasised that such technological demonstrations could be a part of some tactics by different countries.

China’s claim of a new stealth fighter jet, believed to be a 6th-generation model, had caused a stir in military circles globally. The J-36, which made its first appearance in a video circulating on social media, was seen flying in broad daylight over Chengdu, Sichuan province.

The aircraft's design and capabilities suggest it may represent a significant shift in aerial dominance, posing a potential threat to global military powers, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

The development of the J-36 is part of China’s broader strategy to modernise its military, reflecting significant advances in air combat technology. According to a South China Morning Post report, the aircraft was accompanied by a Chengdu J-20S fighter jet during its maiden flight, suggesting that both aircraft may be part of a new generation of Chinese fighter jets poised to challenge existing global powers in the skies.

“It is very difficult to see these kinds of platforms with six-generation capability. What we are talking about is external viewing of an aircraft, and that too with a few seconds clip, which will not give you an idea that this is a six-generation aircraft,” CDS Chauhan told ANI.