The country's aviation industry soared to new heights on Friday, when it successfully tested an upgraded version of a new generation fighter in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The Xiaolong/FC-4 ("Fierce Dragon) plane flew for 16 minutes over the provincial capital of Chengdu, where its developer, the Chengdu Aircraft Group Corp under the China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I), is based.

The success of the flight demonstrated improvement in the innovative capacities of China's aviation industry. It brought its development of new generation fighters to the world's advanced levels, according to a company statement.

The test flight set the stage for mass production of the multiple-purpose light aircraft, according to company sources.

The model's earliest version FC-1 made its maiden flight in 2003. An improved version FC-3 took off for a seven-minute flight the following year.

Compared with previous designs, the latest model has been dramatically improved in overall quality and combat capacity, the AVIC I sources said. It is suitable for the 21st-century combat environment, they said.

The plane is equipped with the country's most advanced electronics and weapons systems and the cost-effective fighter can satisfy domestic and international market demands, the company added.

In the 1980s China said it would develop a new generation of fighter aircraft. Its development programme officially kicked off in 1999, led by AVIC I.

Source: China Daily