According to foreign media "The War Zone," the sixth-generation tailless stealth fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Co., Ltd. of China made its first clear display of its canopy during recent test flights, triggering extensive discussions about its design intentions. The newly released images show that the aircraft is equipped with a streamlined bubble canopy integrated into the top of the fuselage. The length of the canopy suggests it may have a tandem twin-seat configuration. This discovery not only confirms that the aircraft is a manned fighter but also provides new clues about the technical ambitions of China's sixth-generation fighters.
Since the first public flight of Shenyang Aircraft's sixth-generation aircraft on December 26, 2024, its canopy has been difficult to identify due to limited visibility angles and poor image quality. The latest images reveal the streamlined design of the canopy, which integrates seamlessly with the fuselage, minimizing radar reflection. The low visibility of the canopy is attributed to its difficulty in being observed from ground-level low angles, which also helps avoid detection by lower-positioned radars, ensuring its stealth performance. The length of the canopy has sparked speculation about the number of crew members. Although it cannot be confirmed whether Shenyang Aircraft's sixth-generation aircraft is single-seated or twin-seated, its longer canopy might accommodate two crew members in a tandem configuration. A twin-seat design could enhance mission complexity, such as commanding unmanned wingmen, conducting cyber warfare, or operating advanced sensors, aligning with rumors about the multi-tasking capabilities emphasized by China's sixth-generation fighters.
From the emergence of the J-20S to the suspected side-by-side twin-seat configuration of Chengdu's sixth-generation aircraft, and now possibly the tandem twin-seat configuration of Shenyang Aircraft's sixth-generation aircraft, Chinese aviation professionals have once again demonstrated their understanding of future air combat to the world: that the role of the rear seat combat command controller is irreplaceable. In past fighter jets, the rear seat pilot was merely a weapons controller, while today's rear seat pilots are combat command controllers, shouldering multiple responsibilities such as controlling electronic warfare, commanding drones, processing multi-domain information, launching weapons, and commanding other combat platforms. It is worth noting that these tasks cannot be effectively handled by a single pilot, even with artificial intelligence assistance. This situation is quite embarrassing for the U.S. side, as none of the stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35 have twin-seat variants. When using the F-15EX to command loyal wingmen, the lack of stealth becomes a vulnerability in the kill chain. It can be said that in future high-end air combat, it is unlikely to be close-range dogfights, and the absence of a rear seat command controller will be the key to victory or defeat.
It is worth noting that social media images circulating show that the Shenyang Aircraft's sixth-generation aircraft lacks a traditional pitot tube on its nose, sparking heated discussions. The pitot tube is a critical sensor for measuring airspeed, and its absence may indicate that Shenyang Aircraft's sixth-generation aircraft is testing its radar performance to reduce radar cross-section and drag.
It is evident that as the frequency of test flights for Shenyang Aircraft's sixth-generation aircraft increases, more details are expected to emerge in the coming months.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496492829305209395/
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