Shenyang’s sixth-gen fighter, radar-integrated, enters new test phase

Chinese social media platforms have published the first publicly available footage showing Shenyang Aircraft Corporation’s sixth-generation fighter conducting flight tests while equipped with an integrated radar system.

The radar dome’s color—distinctly different from the light gray used on earlier radar-integration test models—signals that the program has advanced to a new phase of flight evaluation.

The aircraft was first unveiled in December 2024 and features a large, radar-optimized nose section intended to enhance its ability to detect and monitor the surrounding operational environment.

Shenyang’s sixth-generation fighter is one of two Chinese sixth-gen platforms currently undergoing flight testing; the other is a larger, longer-range aircraft being developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.

Autonomous operations and drone coordination

Recent Chinese research indicates the Shenyang fighter is designed to operate without reliance on satellite navigation or communication systems. It is also capable of autonomous flight continuation if the pilot loses control, and can coordinate swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles to carry out strike, reconnaissance, and defensive missions.

Size, range, and operational implications

Its smaller physical dimensions relative to the Chengdu-developed sixth-gen fighter are expected to reduce both production and operational costs, enabling broader deployment. Estimates indicate the aircraft possesses a combat radius exceeding 2500 kilometers.