China’s J-36 6th-generation aircraft
As already reported, on Dec. 26, 2024, two technology demonstrator aircraft took flight in China, presumed to be sixth-generation fighter aircraft one of which designed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIC), was allegedly spotted conducting test flights in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Since the aircraft’s serial number (36011) begins with ’36,’ following the People’s Liberation Army Air Force convention, this model is presumably designated as the “J-36”, but further confirmation is needed.
Eric Wicklund, former US Navy Operations Specialist, explains on Quora why West should not be impressed by China’s latest military aircraft;
‘On Dec. 26, 2024, vids of an (apparently) 6th gen Chinese fighter were posted. It appears to have all the features we are expecting from a 6th gen: stealthy shape and tailless to reduce RCS.
‘First of all, this thing is HUGE. The J-20 chase plane (SOP when flying a new plane for the first time), is already a large aircraft. This J-36 is even bigger, about 22m long (72ft) and 20m wide (65ft).
‘I’d be hard pressed to call it a fighter due to its size, but then in the modern age the lines that constitute a fighter/bomber/multirole aircraft are all getting very blurry.
‘The J-36 has a large weapons bay, so that means it could carry a lot of the very large, but long-ranged PL-21 air-to-air missile. It could also carry a significant payload of cruise missiles. I’d call this a multirole aircraft, as it could do it all. With modern missiles doing all the hard work these days, even a bomber can take out fighters from long range.’
RAM
Wicklund continues;
‘Ask me if I’m worried…I’m not.
‘There’s a few reasons I’m not sweating the load.
- Advanced combat aircraft have a loooong development time. Just because something flies doesn’t mean it hits serial production tomorrow. The F-35 first flew in 2006, but didn’t enter active service until 2015. The FC-31 first flew in 2012, and its derivative (J-35) is still in development.
- Just because a plane is flying doesn’t mean it will reach serial production. The NGAD prototype/tech demonstrator flew in 2020, and even broke records, there’s just no pictures of it. Yet, the NGAD program is now on hold. The same could happen to this plane. Just because its flying means nothing concrete.
- Lastly, up to 80% of radar wave absorption/deflection is related to the RAM (Radar Absorbent Material). Materials tech has been a long time weakness for China. This is why they struggled to build the fan blades for the WS-15 engine. We don’t know how good China’s RAM is, and that’s a big part of stealth. Is it equal to the West’s? We don’t know for certain, but have good reason to think it’s not.
Photo credit: Twitter/X
