China has unveiled what appear to be two prototypes of sixth-generation stealth fighter jets that could surpass the J-20 in performance. Pictures and videos of these never-before-seen aircraft began circulating on social media today, shortly after the debut of a striking new design: a diamond-shaped, tailless, heavy tactical combat aircraft.

According to unverified reports, the first and larger design is from Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), while the second combat aircraft design comes from Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). Chengdu builds the J-10, a multirole medium fighter and the J-20, a heavy stealth fighter. On the other hand, Shenyang focuses on producing Chinese versions of the Flanker multirole fighter family and the J-35 stealth aircraft family, which falls under the medium-weight category. 

Chengdu's prototype is notable for featuring three jet intakes, even though the tailless configuration of both aircraft obviously intends to outperform the J-20 in terms of stealth. Two of these intakes are usually underslung on the lower fuselage, and a third inlet on the aircraft spine mid-fuselage offers extra power. According to The War Zone, jet fighters are the only aircraft with this configuration. 

Author and Chinese aerospace observer Andreas Rupprecht explained that he thinks the Shenyang and Chengdu combat aircraft demonstrations are more akin to fighters than bombers. In conversation with a news outlet, he said, "Using the sixth-generation description is perhaps a little too hasty, but I think we are at the point where we can really say the Chinese have shown us for the first time their idea of air combat and new-generation fighters." These revelations emphasised China's rapid advancements in military aviation and raised concerns about the future development of U.S. sixth-generation fighter jets.