CDS Chauhan Questions China's 6th-Gen Fighter Jet Claims: 'Some Distance Away'

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has cast doubt on the Chinese assertion that it has already developed a sixth-generation fighter plane, saying advanced platforms like that are still on the drawing board.

General Chauhan explained that a number of nations were developing sixth-generation fighter projects but, in his opinion, none of them has yet reached the stage of full operational capability.

He also added that the demonstration of advanced technology at times may be a calculated step by countries to influence international perceptions.

"It is extremely hard to evaluate whether an aircraft actually has sixth-generation capabilities. What we are witnessing are exterior looks—mostly a short video clip of a couple of seconds—whereas it is not enough to judge if it is actually a sixth-generation aircraft," General Chauhan said to ANI.

He noted that although earlier reports have referred to China's WS-10 and WS-15 engines, which are designed for fifth-generation fighter aircraft, there is no tangible evidence to back up reports of an operational sixth-generation fighter.

Moreover, he noted the lack of a commonly accepted definition of a sixth-generation fighter.

"Essentially, a sixth-generation aircraft should have manned and unmanned capabilities. It would act as an airborne command post, commanding a fleet of UAVs and combat drones to conduct operations in a very networked and advanced fashion," he described.

These new planes would merge sophisticated technologies, artificial intelligence, and better data analysis to enhance the combat decision-making of a pilot, said the CDS.

In December, photos claiming to depict a Chinese sixth-generation fighter aircraft were posted on social media, which generated extensive discussion.

Although defense analysts conceded that the designs seemed sophisticated, they warned that there was not enough data to make concrete judgments, as reported by Reuters.

China's defense ministry refused to comment on Reuters' queries, and the U.S. Department of Defense said it was "aware of the reports" but declined to say any more than it had in its annual report on China's military advancements.