China’s J-36 sixth-generation fighter was recently spotted in public, with significant design alterations from its last appearance.
While the US Navy and Air Force are banking on their respective next-generation fighter programs to dominate the skies when introduced over the next decade, China is steadily making progress on its own sixth-gen endeavors.
Earlier this month, Beijing’s upcoming J-36 fighter series re-emerged in the public eye featuring some clear alterations. Last year, initial sightings of the stealth jet were publicly documented on social media. While the new images display the same delta design as previously captured, visible changes made to the recent prototype indicate China’s progress surrounding the J-36 is ongoing and evolving.
Meet the New J-36—Not the Same as the Old J-36
According to trade publication The Aviationist, the latest prototype sighting of the J-36 reveals a fighter with revised intakes, a brand-new exhaust layout, and different landing-gear system. As previously reported, the platform appears to retain a hefty, triangular-shaped tailless design that lacks any horizontal control surfaces other than the main wing.
The first sighting of the J-36 indicated the jet possessed exhausts that were located atop the aircraft in a fashion similar to that equipped on the Northrop YF-23. The War Zone details that the new prototype features a different arrangement altogether. As visible in images circulated on social media, the jet appears to have three angular exhaust nozzles that are quite similar to the layout found on the F-22 Raptor series. Additionally, there seems to be an adjustment to the placement of the landing gear, which no longer sits tandem but side-to-side in the new prototype.
How Does the J-36 Compare to the J-20 Mighty Dragon?
Until the J-36 is officially up and running, China will continue to rely on its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 fighter platform to lead its aerial strategy. The “Mighty Dragon” was designed as a direct rival to the American-made F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. Although the Chinese fighter has yet to see real combat, basic specs and details surrounding the aircraft have been made public.
Analysts largely concur that the J-20 hosts a similar arrangement of advanced sensors and avionics to its American counterparts in terms of ability. Additionally, US officials are confident that the Chinese jet is capable of beyond-visual range engagements, which would make the J-20 a more potent threat to American jets than previous aircraft.
While the Mighty Dragon certainly poses a direct threat to American platforms, the jet series is not infallible. Chinese state-run media outlets report that the Mighty Dragon can reach speeds in excess of Mach 2.25 in the skies, but Western analysts are skeptical. In particular, the J-20’s WS-15 engine has come under heavy scrutiny in recent years. Some analysts have suggested the American-made engine that powers the F-35 fighter remains at least a decade ahead of its WS-15 competitor. In 2015, one of the Chinese-made engines exploded, suggesting quality control issues affecting its single-crystal-turbine blades. Based on these considerations, the true power of the J-20 will remain in question until the aircraft is tested in combat.
As Beijing races to field its sixth-generation J-36 aircraft, the timely introduction of the US military’s upcoming NGAD and F/A-XX programs becomes even more paramount to American security interests.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Shutterstock / Zhongxinyashi_Photo.
