The new next-generation training jet from China, built by the Chinese company HAIG, has finally made its inaugural flight.
According to information from The Aviationist, images of the first flight of China’s next-generation light combat and training aircraft, which took place last Tuesday (28), were shared on Chinese social media.
The aircraft from Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) was photographed both on the ground and in the air, still with a yellow base coat of paint and no visible serial numbers.
The jet’s designation has not yet been officially announced, but it is already being referred to as the JL-XX by Chinese military observers. The JL-XX appears to be a completely new design from HAIG, although it is inspired by the design of the JL-10.
Among the differences are a newly redesigned nose cone, dual inclined vertical stabilizers that closely resemble those of the J-35 fighter series, and the addition of dual ventral stabilizers, similar to those of the J-20 series.
The presence of attachment points on the tips of the wings and a gray radome (which may indicate an onboard radar) strongly suggests that the JL-XX is a dual-role aircraft, both for fighter training (LIFT – Lead-In Fighter Training) and light combat.
This configuration is comparable to platforms like the KAI FA-50 from South Korea, suggesting that the new Chinese jet could also serve other functions beyond just training new pilots.
…… and it even alread pic.twitter.com/UnP3sSV3Av
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) October 28, 2025
Photos: X @RupprechtDeino. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
