When Donald Trump assumes the presidency, the new administration will be tasked with countering the two Chinese aircraft that were recently revealed online.
The two planes were unveiled within a 24-hour span by two manufacturers, Chengdu and Shenyang, and likely represent cutting-edge stealth technology, according to a Forbes story.
Derek Jones, who currently leads Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, logged thousands of hours in the cockpit of Air Force jets, including the F-16 and F-111. He tells AFN the Chinese aircraft represent sixth-generation fighters for the PLA Air Force.
"As a former fighter pilot, looking at the aircraft, seeing the designs, knowing where we are in this modern day, it's very concerning to me,” he says.
Describing their capabilities, the Forbes article said both of the two aircraft are tailless deltas, meaning they have sleek triangular wings to fight radar signature. Their combat roles could be air-to-air fighting or ground-attack aircraft designated as stealth bombers, the story said.
When the aircraft enter production, Jones predicts China’s manufacturing capabilities will likely produce them quickly and in great numbers.
His hope is that the Pentagon is working on similar projects, too, and the Forbes article mentions the U.S. Air Force tested a similar aircraft in 2020.
“You always hope that your government is ahead of the curve,” the pilot-turned-chaplain says.
