These are the clearest pictures yet, really up close, of China's previously mysterious J50 tailless stealth fighter.
China’s Tailless J-XDS Stealth Fighter
The images provide the clearest view of the J-XDS
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation’s J-XDS or J-50
a heavy sixth-generation stealth fighter design
features no tails, thrust vectoring, and a very sleek profile
has unique features - swiveling wingtip control surfaces
The jet plane has no vertical control surfaces like a tail fin. This adds to the plane's stealth characteristics. They have incorporated swivelling fins at the wing tips (circled red) to help manouevre flight.
Sixth generation means it must have significant AI features. The plane can possibly also fly by itself without a pilot (UCAV), fly with drones and have other unmanned J50s flying wingman. A full squadron that can fly, navigate and carry out missions without or with minimal human pilots.
What is even more amazing is the speed at which the Chinese have brought this plane into flight. Until about a year ago nobody had any idea even of its design phases. It is already flying.
