China's second stealth fighter has made its first test-flight, state media reported Thursday, in the latest step forward for the country's efforts to modernise its military.
The J-31, the second stealth plane to be unveiled by China in less than two years, flew for 11 minutes on Wednesday morning, the state-run Global Times cited an eyewitness as saying.
Photos posted on online by Chinese military enthusiasts appeared to show the black-painted combat plane in mid-flight. The first photos of the aircraft were leaked online last month.
China unveiled its first stealth-fighter, the J-20, in early 2011, while its first aircraft carrier entered service in October and others capable of carrying aircraft like the J-31 are expected to follow.
"The J-31 is almost certainly designed with the intention of operating on aircraft carriers," the Global Times cited a Chinese military expert as saying.
China said its defence spending will top $100 billion in 2012, the latest in a series of budget increases to the country's 2.3 million strong military.