A top Chinese Air Force official says China will have fifth-generation fighters fielded within eight to 10 years—and that puts them ahead of the timeline Defense Secretary Robert Gates projected in arguing to curtail F-22 production at only 187 aircraft. Various news reports cite comments made last week by Gen. He Weirong, in a China Central Television interview, in which the air force deputy commander said the new aircraft would match or exceed the capability of similar jets in existence today, reports Global Times. Another Chinese officer told GT that the new fighter would definitely be stealthy and have “overwhelming technological advantages” compared to the previous generation. In July, Gates told the Economic Club in Chicago (transcript), Beijing “is projected to have no fifth-generation aircraft by 2020” and would have only “a handful” by 2025. Hmmm. (On China’s new fighter: Aviation Week report; Flight Global report) (For background, Air Supremacy in a Downdraft)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
