China unveils second potential stealth jet

Wired : Over the weekend photos were leaked of a Chinese twin-engine jet with design features that indicate stealth capabilities. The Shenyang aerospace company appeared to be the manufacturer. Dubbed the J-21, the plane is the second such plane revealed in just two years, following rival company Chengdu’s J-20 design. It is unclear, however, what role either of the planes will have in China’s military. The planes could be competing for the same production contract, or they could both be put into service, or neither could be used for anything more than testing. Both planes share the twin-engine, twin-tailed design of the US F-22 stealth jet, as well as the faceted features of other stealth aircraft. However, stealth jets currently in production in the US also require highly advanced electronics and materials. How far China’s technology has progressed in those areas is not known.