In a recent interview with Chinanews.com, Wang Yongqing, chief designer at the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, said his team is incorporating the DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) platform into the research and development process.

They have also conducted extensive research into the potential of using large language models — the technology behind AI models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek — to analyze and solve complex problems based on real-world needs.

"This technology has shown promising application potential, providing new ideas and methods for future aerospace research and development," said Mr. Wang.

The Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute is a subsidiary of the state-run Aviation Industry Corporation of China. It has helped design a number of fighter jets for the country's military, including advanced multirole fighters such as the navy's J-15 Flying Shark and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation-made J-35 stealth fighter.

Mr Wang said AI is also being used to free researchers from tedious evaluation tasks so they can focus on more important work. “This is an important step … and points to the future direction of aerospace research,” he said.

The designer also said that work on new variants of the J-35 with multi-role combat capabilities, both in the air and at sea, is "progressing steadily according to plan".

Meanwhile, several videos and images released on social media show that China appears to be stepping up testing of its sixth-generation stealth fighters, informally known as the J-36 and J-50.

DeepSeek, based in Hangzhou, made global headlines earlier this year when it launched an AI model that challenged the dominance of its US competitors.

The DeepSeek craze has caught on in China, with various sectors rapidly adopting the model, from businesses, schools and hospitals, to local governments and the defense sector.