Summary and Key Points: China’s sixth-generation “White Emperor” (Baidi) fighter jet signals Beijing’s ambitious entry into elite aerospace competition. Displayed as a mock-up at the Zhuhai Airshow, it promises revolutionary features: advanced stealth, nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles, near-space operational capability, AI-driven drone integration, and potential directed-energy weapons.
-However, Western analysts remain skeptical, noting the gap between China’s stated goals and current technological reality.
-Meanwhile, the U.S. faces internal budgetary constraints potentially threatening its Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter program. If realized, the White Emperor would pose a substantial challenge to American air dominance, potentially reshaping global military dynamics by leveraging AI and hypersonic advancements.
That 1 Word: Controversial.
China’s Ambitious White Emperor Jet—Will It Leapfrog America’s Next-Gen Fighters?
One hot topic in defense aerospace is the advent of super-stealth 6th-generation fighters. The United States boasts its Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, which has two proposed engines but could be on the chopping block with new Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Russia touts its MiG-41 PAK DP sixth-generation fighter, but that may never come to fruition.
To be part of this exclusive club, China has unveiled its next-generation White Emperor (Baidi) fighter. And while debate rages about whether the mockup fighter will ever really take flight (some even allege it has), what if Beijing can pull it off and develop the plane?
What could we expect in the future from the White Emperor?
What’s the Status of This Arms Race?
There is certainly an arms race here, and the United States could lose it to the Chinese.
That would spell a death knell over future American aviation prospects. China continues to forge ahead with its White Emperor, hoping to leave the Americans and Russians in the dust.
AI, Drone Motherships, and Hypersonic Weapons
These new airplanes will depend on artificial intelligence advancements to improve information technology in the cockpit. AI will likely control “Loyal Wingman” autonomous drones that can fly out ahead for reconnaissance purposes, feed targeting data to the pilot, and conduct bomb damage assessment for ground strikes. Sixth-generation fighters will probably have hypersonic weapons capabilities or the wherewithal to enter near space altitudes and destroy satellites. Top speed could be as fast as MACH 4+.
‘Human-Machine Hybrid Control’
The Chinese must be excited about these possibilities and work hard to get the White Emperor. The airplane mock-up made an appearance at the Zhuhai Air Show last November. The Chinese defense giant Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is in charge of the program. Like the F-35 Lightning II, the White Emperor will be a “flying computer” with what I call “human-machine hybrid control.”
The airplane has a diamond-shaped fuselage and wings, which should improve stealthiness. The weapons bay will be big enough for nuclear-tipped hypersonic missiles. The sixth-generation fighter could deliver anti-satellite weapons, making it a force to be reckoned with as space war is a constant possibility in the coming years.
Is China Leading the Race?
The White Emperor could be ready by 2035 if AVIC has its way, again, if China does decide to move past the mockup stage.
Chengdu Aerospace, another defense manufacturer included in the design, research, and development process, is also trying to meet the jet’s requirements.
However, since the airplane may have been seen in flight already in some capacity, as some speculate, the Chinese would be ahead of the game, and the White Emperor could be produced in numbers by the end of the decade.
But it is more likely that the White Emperor is still a mock-up and not operational. Again, the debate on this rages on.
Near Space Fighter With Lasers
The White Emperor may also have a laser to eliminate enemy satellites at near-space altitudes. If this directed energy system could someday be operational, the Chinese would have one valuable 6th-generation fighter. Space war is a definite possibility in the next five years, and China is leaping ahead in space capabilities.
Don’t Go Crazy on the Speculation Just Yet
Still, it is too early to speculate about all three potential 6th generation fighters. Russia’s MiG-41 is likely still vaporware. The NGAD is on developmental “pause” until the SECDEF reviews the program. Hegseth is more concerned about building drones, so the NGAD could be uncrewed, which would make for a lengthy acquisition process. It is not clear if the White Emperor has flown or if it is a mock-up.
Lockheed Martin NGAD Fighter. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin.
However, China must feel good about where it is on next-generation flight. Hypersonic nuclear weapons, ultra-stealth, artificial intelligence, directed energy, and near-space altitude are all ambitious qualities for the White Emperor or any other possible Chinese fighter program.
Meanwhile, the NGAD could cost $300 million per unit. That number must come down, or Hegseth will not likely pour unlimited money into it. Congress will have a say in the matter, too. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers wanted to spend much more on defense than the Joe Biden administration did. But when Hegseth was confirmed and declared an annual $50 billion budget cut, Wicker and Rogers stopped discussing increased defense spending. NGAD may be stillborn due to price constraints.
That’s fine with the Chinese, as limited defense budgets do not hamper Xi Jinping. He is willing to allow AVIC and Chengdu to work their engineering prowess to achieve a fully functioning White Emperor by the decade’s end, or perhaps something close to it.
That means the Chinese could beat the Russians and the Americans in the 6th generation fighter race, and Xi would love nothing better.
Chinese NGAD White Emperor Fighter Plane from China. Image Credit: X Screenshot.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
