Special Reports

China has begun developing a stealth fighter aircraft, according to a defence industry report published on Wednesday.

The stealth technology planned for the plane has not been revealed but one expert suggests the aircraft will be considerably less sophisticated than the latest US stealth aircraft.

The plane is in early stages of development with engineers considering a number of different potential designs, according to the report in the Jane's Defence Weekly.

Development of the fighter's engines and weapons systems has begun at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in northeast China, the report says, quoting an unnamed senior source at the China Aviation Industry Company.

Photographs obtained by the magazine show a model of a twin-engine aircraft comparable in design to the US F/A 22 fighter. The fighter has angular features, similar in shape to the US F-117A Nighthawk stealth bomber. This helps prevent aircraft being detected by radar.

Derivative design

Craig Hoyle, editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, says other features, including the vehicle's coating, can contribute to stealth. But he adds that China's military aircraft development programme has often relied on adapting proven technology.

He also notes that the Russian military claims to have developed technology that can detect stealth aircraft. "If they are building something based on a technology the US developed 20 years ago, there may already be something out there that can detect it," Hoyle told New Scientist.

The US is currently working on a more advanced stealth aircraft than the Nighthawk. In October 2002, Boeing revealed a bat-winged stealth jet called the Bird of Prey. This is rumoured to have advanced stealth features such as adaptive camouflage, but no details have been disclosed.

Dubbed the J-X, the new Chinese aircraft would extend China's fighter plane range. China has developed another fighter known as the J-10, which is comparable to the US F-16, although this has not been officially unveiled.