China’s Sixth-Gen Jet Faces Fatal Flaws, Can’t Fit Aircraft Carriers, 10 Years for Tech Breakthrough

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Over the past five years, China’s official narrative has touted the J-20’s induction, which allegedly terrified the U.S.; the launch of the Fujian aircraft carrier, which caught global attention; and hypersonic missiles that are said to "dominate the world." However, in February 2026, a rare in-depth report from "Maritime Vanguard," a Chinese media outlet with close ties to the military, revealed that China’s sixth-generation fighter, codenamed "South Six," has encountered disruptive technical setbacks. The aircraft's design has exceeded expectations, forcing the use of an unconventional three-engine layout, and it cannot even be adapted for the newly launched Fujian-class aircraft carrier (003). The article bluntly stated that overcoming these technical bottlenecks will take "another ten years."

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