As footage and images of what might have been the maiden flight of China’s sixth-generation fighter jet went viral on Thursday, the country’s official military media appeared to tacitly confirm the speculation.

A mysterious aircraft bearing a triangular tailless design was seen flying over Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province in broad daylight, flanked by a fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet, according to videos shared on Chinese social media.

While the jet – speculated by observers to feature cutting-edge stealth and endurance capabilities – has yet to be officially identified or named, a provincial newspaper made reference to the aircraft.

New Chinese fighter jet seen over Chengdu tacitly confirmed by military

“It really looks like a leaf,” the Chengdu-based Defence Times wrote on its Weibo account alongside an image of a ginkgo leaf.

The post quickly circulated across social media and was widely interpreted as a semi-official acknowledgement of the new fighter jet.

The test flight coincided with the birthday of Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China. Many Chinese netizens commemorated Mao on social media, with some viewing the flight as a symbolic tribute to the former leader.

“Looking back, we only had 17 cobbled-together aeroplanes when Mao proclaimed the founding of China in 1949,” one commented. “In contrast, the United States, fresh out of World War II, had 20,000 fighter jets.”

In recent years, China has rapidly developed its military equipment amid heightened tensions with the US.

The high-speed J-20, for instance, is designed for air superiority and long-range strikes, featuring advanced stealth capabilities and cutting-edge avionics.

The stealth fighter marks the latest chapter in China’s growing strength in modern military aviation and rivals US jets such as the F-22 and F-35.

Meanwhile, the J-35, a newer fighter under development, is a twin-engined, carrier-capable jet intended to enhance China’s naval aviation power.

Its compact size and stealth design suggest it is tailored for operations aboard China’s expanding fleet of aircraft carriers.

As for the US, it is developing its sixth-generation fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, which is expected to feature advanced stealth capabilities, adaptive engines and an ability to control drones.

An image posted online approximates the shape of the sixth-generation fighter jet. Photo: Weibo/前HR本人

Compared with China’s sixth-generation fighter, the NGAD jet aims to outpace threats with superior sensors and AI-driven decision-making. The programme highlights the high-stakes competition between the two global military powers.

The sixth-generation fighter jet observed on Thursday has done away with the J-20’s vertical tail fins, instead using wingtip control surfaces for better directional stability and stealth capabilities.

It appears significantly larger than the J-20, allowing for greater range and payload capacity. This includes increased fuel storage as well as advanced weaponry and sensors, making it well-suited for extended missions, according to observers.

It is also rumoured to feature three engines in a highly unconventional configuration meant for sustained high-speed flight and high-altitude operation.