Images have surdata-faced showcasing what appears to be new designs of Chinese military aircraft, according to analysts.

Vague images of two presumably new Chinese military planes featuring stealthy attributes emerged online on Friday, with defense specialists stating that they seemed to represent advanced designs, though the lack of clarity prevents any definitive analysis.

Both aircraft lack tails, indicating they do not have vertical stabilizers for control. Such plane designs typically rely on computers to manage stability by processing the pilot’s control commands.

The larger craft has a diamond-like shape, featuring three engine air intakes—two positioned alongside the fuselage and one located on top—which is an exceptionally uncommon configuration. The smaller aircraft adopts a more standard layout but, like the larger one, does not have a tail.

Both designs exhibit the absence of 90-degree angles characteristic of stealth design, aimed at minimizing radar detection.

As china continues to upgrade its military capabilities, the designs reflect "the willingness of China’s aviation sector to take risks and innovate," said Euan Graham, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

"Regardless of the pros and cons, this seems to be a remarkably original design," he remarked. "They should be commended for that and it might dispel any residual complacency that the US and its allies always lead the way."

China's defense ministry did not promptly provide comments upon request. The US Department of Defense acknowledged "awareness of the reports" but refrained from further remarks beyond those in its latest report regarding the Chinese military.

Next Generation fighter Jets

The united states has been working for years on its Next Generation air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, which aims to create a sixth-generation fighter jet, yet the direction of this project remains uncertain with the upcoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Collaborative efforts are ongoing in europe and Asia for a separate next-generation aircraft project entitled the Global Combat air Programme, with a recent announcement of a joint British-Japanese venture.

Reuters verified a video demonstrating the larger of the two new Chinese planes flying over Chengdu by correlating nearby structures, signs, logos, and trees with satellite images and previously captured photos. The authenticity of the date could not be independently confirmed.

The Chinese planes shown in the online images are not the first advanced tailless designs. The Northrop Grumman B-2 and B-21 stealth bombers are examples of flying wing aircraft, along with several unmanned models, such as the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 and China's CH-7, which also lack tails.

Neither of the Chinese jets has an official designation that has been disclosed. Although the designs are innovative in comparison to the rest of China's fleet, it's challenging to ascertain their stealth capabilities, maneuverability, speed, or the specifics of their avionics—key information required to evaluate whether they qualify as "next-generation" designs, according to five defense specialists.

Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at Griffith Asia Institute in Australia, pointed out that it is generally difficult to categorize Chinese aircraft as fifth-generation—like the current stealth jets F-22 and F-35—due to their distinctive design features that are not replicated elsewhere.

China's J-20 and J-35 also feature stealth-like abilities, but their exact capabilities remain publicly unknown, with only the J-20 currently in active service.

The united states has been investing significant resources into advanced missile technology and other systems to deter china in the Indo-Pacific region. Recently, it conducted a test of a missile interception system on the strategically important island of guam utilizing advanced radar. Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Stimson Center, described China's daytime flights of new designs over visible cities as "curious." She noted that it might be more feasible for china to keep pace with the united states in terms of aircraft rather than in the areas of uncrewed vehicles and missiles. "As the Pentagon is currently engaged in a discussion about the future of NGAD, it is difficult not to speculate that this could be Beijing's effort to sway that conversation," she remarked. Additionally, on Friday, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported that the People's Liberation army Navy had commissioned its latest amphibious assault ship.