In a post on its social media account on Jun. 29, the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment 中国航空研究院 disclosed that a “new generation” 新一代 fighter will make its maiden flight next year.
The article said its personnel was sent to Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute or 601 Institute and the 29th Research Institute of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) during COVID-19 to support the aircraft’s development work.
The aircraft could either be a new variant of an existing airframe or a total new design. However, it is of note that if its a new design, it would have been written as 新型 in mandarin.
