IAF Chief Casts Doubts on China's Recent 6th-Gen Jet, Citing Just Flight Testing An Airframe Can't Define A Jet's True Capabilities

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has expressed serious doubts regarding recent Chinese claims of having flown a sixth-generation fighter jet.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, the Air Chief Marshal emphasized that simply achieving flight with a new airframe is insufficient to categorize an aircraft as a true sixth-generation fighter.

Earlier this year, reports originating from Chinese state media outlets and aviation publications suggested that the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had successfully completed the first flight of a sixth-generation fighter prototype.

These reports, often accompanied by limited visual evidence and ambiguous details, fueled speculation about China's rapid advancement in aerospace technology and its ambition to surpass other global powers in the development of next-generation air combat capabilities.

China's progress in military aviation is notable, with the J-20, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, already in service, and other advanced platforms reportedly in development.

However, Air Chief Marshal voiced strong reservations about the validity of these claims. "Many have doubts on the Chinese sixth-generation fighter claim that was allegedly flown earlier this year and what all capabilities it has," he stated, suggesting a need for a more rigorous assessment of the aircraft's capabilities.

He highlighted the need for caution, stressing that a sixth-generation aircraft must possess a full spectrum of advanced capabilities beyond merely taking to the air.

While a universally accepted definition of a sixth-generation fighter jet remains elusive, as no such aircraft is currently in operational service worldwide, Air Chief Marshal explained that "just having an airframe flying is not good enough—it should have the capabilities." Experts generally agree such an aircraft would likely incorporate features that allow for gaining significant advantage.

Air Chief Marshal's skepticism implies that China's alleged sixth-generation prototype may not yet possess the complete set of characteristics typically associated with this next level of fighter technology.

The lack of verifiable information regarding the aircraft's systems, performance data, and overall integration raises concerns that the claim may be premature, potentially serving more as a strategic propaganda than a demonstrable technological leap. The development of advanced fighter aircraft is a complex and lengthy process, and true sixth-generation capabilities are expected to represent a paradigm shift in aerial warfare.

 

[sanket]

Airframe flying with a 4th Gen Engine, no sensors, or weapons. The engine, too, is not perfected. Even Pakistan is not interested in integrating that engine in the JF-17 fighter jet, which tells the story. In fact, Pakistan wants to integrate a Russian engine in the Russian-designed, Chinese-built JF-17 fighter jet, which is painted with green colour and the nuts and bolts tightened in Pakistan.

 

[Sunny]

Even if there are doubts about the 2 jets being 6th generation, there should be no doubt about them being 5th generation at least, likely solving any shortcomings of J-20 and J-35. We should accelerate our AMCA and go for either SU-57 or F-35 and scrap MRCA. Though SU-57 stealth might not be as good as F-35, the F-35 is still not offered as part of any deal. The Chinese also did not wait for a perfect stealth jet and inducted gradual increase in stealth capability. The AMCA is still at least 2 decades away from being inducted in meaningful numbers and we will need a stealth jet to hold our adversaries till then.

 

[swatkats_razor]

The proper thing would have been if he would have cast sceptism around ADA/HAL's tall claim on the status of Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA projects.

If anything, there are actual doubts surrounding feasibility of both these projects.

 

[Sandeep]

He’s right in what he says. Also China does have the habit of advertising capabilities and technology that it doesn’t have.

 

[P2S2]

Yes caution is warranted. Such jumping the gun assertions can be used as a marketing tool to wrench out orders for their present planes. The mid east is probably the target to help finance future Chinese technologies. We are familiar with the pathways of SU57. SU75 is still mostly on the drawing board. What we probably are hearing about is planned abilities. Facts are there's a frame that can fly that is a accomplishment. Filling it up won't be much of a problem. Quality of what it can muster should at the very least be assumed to be what is presently out there. Nevertheless it requires a lot of thought.

 

[KINDA SUS]

China hasn't yet made a 5th-generation fighter that surpasses the F-22 and F-35. The F-22 and F-35 still surpass both the J-20 and Su-57 in overall capability. I think that the USA’s 5th-generation fighters are still better than China’s future 6th-generation fighters.

 

[Dredd]

China hasn't yet made a 5th-generation fighter that surpasses the F-22 and F-35. The F-22 and F-35 still surpass both the J-20 and Su-57 in overall capability. I think that the USA’s 5th-generation fighters are still better than China’s future 6th-generation fighters.

May be, but that still would be a cause of concern. As not only they would have capability but also huge number probably matching or surpassing USA.

 

[Dredd]

He’s right in what he says. Also China does have the habit of advertising capabilities and technology that it doesn’t have.

But they do have all the baseline technology to develop the capabilities, so it's safe to assume that they either have the capability or are on the way to developing it. The only missing piece I could see with China is next-generation engines.

 

[Varaaah]

Chinese know how to focus on a single project and finish it in record time. Look at their engines. Their latest engines are much, much better than their previous engines. Because they correctly identify the problems and are solution-minded.

In India, after so many years, still the Dhruv chopper suffers the same problem as 30 years ago. Nobody steps forward to bring a solution. Because finding solutions to problems is not appreciated in India, while that is equally important as R&D.

 

[Prince singh Rawat]

May be, but that still would be a cause of concern. As not only they would have capability but also huge number probably matching or surpassing USA.

The US has way more stealth fighters than China, despite many of those going to allies. And by 2035, the USAF alone would have 2500 F-35s and the 6th gen jet, NGAD. Now, include the US Navy and Marines in it, and the number will be much higher. The reason behind this is coz the aerospace industry, both commercial and military, is dominated by the West, and in particular, the US. For example, the US makes more military aircraft than any other country in the world.