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China’s J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority

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In what is being reported as a surprise development, China has unveiled a new generation of crewed stealth combat aircraft that could redefine air combat dynamics and potentially challenge America’s aerial dominance in Asia.

The first new aircraft, designated but not officially confirmed as J-36, lacks traditional tails and features a modified delta wing design, The War Zone reported.

While the exact identity and specifications of the aircraft remain unclear, it was likely produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), according to The War Zone report. It appears to be the highest number confirmed so far in the Jianjiji fighter jet series, the previous being the J-35.

The aircraft’s design aligns with China’s aspirations for advanced airpower, emphasizing stealth and long-range capabilities. The tailless configuration is intended to reduce radar signature and improve aerodynamic efficiency, although it may impact maneuverability, The War Zone report says.

The aircraft’s three engines suggest a focus on sustained high-speed flight and operations at high altitudes. The Chinese Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the new aircraft.

Right after unveiling its next-generation tactical jet, The War Zone reported that China unveiled a second, smaller design attributed to the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC).

The War Zone says the aircraft, designated the J-50, features stealth technologies, including tailless designs that enhance low observability and reduce radar signatures. Unlike the three-engine J-36, the report notes that the J-50 has a twin-engine configuration.

While China’s new jets have been touted as “sixth-generation fighters,” this loosely defined term could easily flaunt military capability for propaganda purposes.

In an October 2009 article for Air and Space Forces Magazine, John Tirpak says a sixth-generation fighter is an advanced combat aircraft concept emphasizing extreme stealth, adaptability and technological integration.

According to Tirpak, such an aircraft would incorporate features such as morphing airframes, directed energy weapons and “smart skins” embedded with sensors for unparalleled situational awareness.

He says it would be designed for both manned and optionally unmanned operations, integrating advanced networking capabilities and enabling seamless collaboration with other platforms.

Tirpak mentions that these aircraft would be built for high efficiency across flight regimes, potentially featuring variable-cycle engines and directed energy defenses.

He says that with cyber warfare capabilities and reduced lifecycle costs, sixth-generation fighters aim to maintain air dominance while addressing future operational challenges​.

While China’s new-generation stealth combat aircraft may have some characteristics of sixth-generation fighters, not enough is known about their capabilities to warrant that designation.

Nevertheless, China’s idea of a sixth-generation fighter may differ vastly from Western and other definitions, reflecting its unique requirements.

As to these aircraft’s possible capabilities, Bill Sweetman mentions in an article for The Strategist last month that the J-36 represents a significant leap in aviation technology. Sweetman says that the J-36 is the largest combat aircraft developed in China and the second-largest globally in 35 years.

Sweetman says the J-36’s double-delta wing design enhances its supersonic performance and all-aspect stealth capabilities. In terms of dimensions, he says the aircraft has a length of approximately 23 meters and a wingspan of 19 meters, with a substantial wing area of around 200 square meters.

He points out that the J-36’s main weapon bay measures approximately 7.6 meters and is supplemented by side bays for smaller weapons, indicating a considerable payload capacity.

He also mentions that the aircraft’s three-engine configuration, with two engines fed by caret-shaped inlets and a third by a diverterless supersonic inlet, suggests a focus on achieving supercruise capabilities without relying on afterburners.

Sweetman says the J-36’s design emphasizes stealth, with no vertical tail surfaces and flexible skins covering hinge lines.

Defense Express mentioned last month that the J-50 twin-engine aircraft spans approximately 22 meters and has an estimated wing area of 145 square meters.

The report says that the J-50 may have a maximum take-off weight of 40 tons, a top speed of Mach 2 and a combat radius of 2,200 kilometers.

The report notes that the J-50’s design includes several weapon compartments, the largest capable of housing four PL-17 air-to-air missiles, each with a range of up to 300 kilometers and that it can carry one YJ-12 anti-ship missile, which can fly at three times the speed of sound with a range of 400 kilometers.

In contrast to China’s next-generation airpower advancements, competing US efforts seem to be in disarray.

In September 2024, Asia Times reported that the US Air Force is reconsidering its Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter program due to budget constraints, technological advancements and evolving threats from armed drones.

US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced a pause on the NGAD program in July 2024, with acquisition chief Andrew Hunter and Vice Chief of Staff General James Slife suggesting reassessing requirements.

The review will explore whether air superiority can be achieved by integrating existing aircraft like the F-35, F-15EX and F-22 with new technologies such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Advances in autonomy and other technologies since the initial NGAD analysis have prompted this reconsideration.

Significant factors are the high costs associated with the NGAD program, estimated at nearly US$250 million per aircraft, and the need for a more cost-effective approach.

The US Air Force also faces delays in the F-35 program and high costs of the B-21 Raider and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs.

China’s ongoing air force modernization signals a pivotal shift in its military strategy, with significant regional and global security implications.

The US Department of Defense’s 2024 China Military Power Report says that the introduction of advanced fighter designs, including stealth-capable aircraft like the J-20 and ongoing development of sixth-generation systems, underscores the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) ambition to achieve parity with or surpass US and allied air capabilities.

The report notes that these developments reflect an integrated approach to air dominance, focusing on network-centric operations, electronic warfare capabilities and enhanced missile platforms.

It also says that by transferring naval aviation units and integrating air defense systems into the PLAAF, China aims to optimize command and control efficiency, bolstering its capacity to project power within and beyond the First Island Chain.

According to the report, the PLAAF’s emphasis on indigenization and cutting-edge technologies aligns with China’s broader military goals of “intelligentized” warfare, incorporating AI and quantum computing. These advancements challenge US air superiority and pose an escalation risk in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

The report notes that as these systems come online, they may alter the strategic calculus of neighboring states and complicate defense planning for the US and its allies, particularly in contested Indo-Pacific airspaces​.

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