A new super long range Chinese fighter jet has stunned the world after the plane was spotted on its maiden voyage missing one key feature.

The stealthy ‘super weapon’ was spotted over China and speculation suggests the country may be on the edge of unveiling new high-performance combat aircraft.

According to defence news and analysis website The War Zone, the fighter is speculated to have the ability to fly on edge of space and has been designed to target US early warning aircraft and tankers that could not be reached before.

‘But above all else, if procured in an operation form by the PLAAF, it would be able to fly over long regional distances and loiter for extended periods on station far from home without tanker support – something China lacks in terms of capacity versus the United States,’ the website stated.

‘It would also presumably be able to do this in closer proximity to threats than any other manned aircraft in China’s arsenal’. 

The new jet was spotted alongside a Chengdu J-20, the current generation of fighters – compared to the US Air Force’s F-22.

The War Zone stated the plane was spotted conducting a daytime test flight, alongside the current generation serving as a chase plane.

It was seen flying with its landing gear open, a standard practice during early testing stages, from the airfield of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, which develops Chinese drones and fighters.

The new aircraft appeared in social media posts revealing a large, three-engine warplane with a cockpit and diamond-style wing with no vertical tails – which may help the aircraft to avoid being detected in radars.

According to Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), while the aircraft’s design is ‘fascinating,’ it is likely part of China’s ongoing regional bomber/strike fighter development, rather than their sixth-generation fighter programme. 

He took to X to caution that the aircraft might not match the performance expectations set by the US NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) – a United States Air Force sixth-generation air superiority initiative – but it could represent a significant leap in China’s tactical airpower capabilities.   

According to Aviation Weekly, the aircraft’s engines are fed by a single dorsal inlet and two ventral inlets.

The dorsal inlet features a stealth-enhancing diverterless supersonic inlet.

The multiple intakes appear to be positioned for optimal stealth and high-speed performance, the UK Defence Journal has suggested. 

The aircraft’s large ventral fuselage section likely provides room for an internal weapons bay and the main landing gear features two wheels each, a hallmark of heavy fighter-bombers, such as the Sukhoi Su-34.

Images of the potential super fighter have also indicated that there are possible missile and bomb loading hatches under the fuselage, further enhancing radar stealth.

Engine nozzles located above the fuselage also reduce heat radiation and noise.

The fighter may also have  aerodynamic efficiencies which would provide better performance for high-speed dashes and cruising flight.

It goes on to say: ‘Clearly, this aircraft incorporates significantly greater low observable technologies that are a leap ahead of the J-20, beyond its tailless design.’

The aircraft also seems to be larger than its predecessor, which the website says: ‘would seem to reflect an overarching concern with long endurance with comparatively massive internal volume to accommodate a very large fuel load, as well as weapons and sensors.’

The jet’s design have also led to some speculation that it may have three engines – something very unorthodox.

This is said to being down to the aircraft’s higher weight which would need more engines to meet aggressive performance goals – especially for high speed flights and operations at high altitudes.  

Now-retired Air Force Gen. Mark D. Kelly, had said that it would be no surprise if China had been working on a new generation of fighter jets.

He warned that China ‘are not dummies. They know what they’re doing.’

He added that he also expected the Chinese sixth-generation air combat program to include an ‘exponential’ improvement in stealth compared with current platforms.