After the exposure of China’s sixth-generation aircraft video, many Chinese media outlets have promoted it extensively, even suggesting that the US military had to work overtime to discuss it during Christmas. Both American media and Elon Musk were stunned. Today, let’s take a look at how American military experts view China’s sixth-generation aircraft.
Firstly, let’s look at an article published by the US magazine “Aviation Week & Space Technology” in January this year. This report interviewed former US Air Force officials and aerospace experts. They stated that the so-called sixth-generation aircraft displayed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation is actually a prototype of a medium-sized stealth bomber. The twin-engine fighter displayed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation resembles a new type of technology demonstrator based on the Lambda lifting-body concept.
Experts believe that this medium-sized bomber might be similar to the FB-22 medium bomber. The FB-22, developed by Lockheed Martin based on the F-22 fighter 20 years ago, was considered but not adopted by the US Air Force.
The US Air Force’s F-22 fighter, primarily used for air superiority, can only carry four air-to-air missiles in its internal weapons bay and cannot carry large anti-ship missiles or heavy bombs. Given the cancellation of the next-generation stealth bomber program by the US Air Force at that time, they considered designing a medium bomber based on the F-22 concept, resulting in the FB-22.
Lockheed Martin provided a total of four different versions of the FB-22 to the Air Force, each designed for specific requirements. According to Lockheed Martin’s design, apart from a larger weapons bay in the fuselage, the sides of the aircraft also have weapon bays. While the F-22 fighter can only carry eight 250-pound small-diameter bombs, the FB-22 can carry at least 35, significantly increasing its payload capacity. Additionally, the FB-22 can carry 5000-pound bunker buster bombs. The FB-22 also has increased fuel capacity, nearly doubling its combat range to 3000 km, comparable to the F-111. It requires two pilots, with the second pilot primarily responsible for weapon system operation.
In terms of design requirements, the FB-22 does not have supersonic cruising capability but can perform supersonic dashes using afterburners when necessary. The maximum speed of the FB-22’s second prototype is 1.92 Mach, while the fourth prototype can reach a maximum speed of 1.5 Mach.
Looking closely at the four versions of the FB-22 design proposed by Lockheed Martin, the first design is aerodynamically similar to the F-22 but with an elongated fuselage to accommodate more weapons.
However, starting from the second conceptual aircraft, Lockheed Martin took a different approach, increasing the area of the diamond-shaped wing, integrating it with the horizontal tail, forming a large triangular wing. This not only increased the aircraft’s lift but also expanded the internal weapons bay area.
Interestingly, Lockheed Martin even contemplated eliminating the vertical tail in earlier designs. They stated that removing the vertical tail could save materials, ease maintenance, and enhance the aircraft’s stealth characteristics. However, Lockheed Martin would need to redesign the flight control software. Lockheed Martin had already conducted some no-vertical tail design work on an F-22 conceptual aircraft named X-44, making the absence of a vertical tail technically feasible but with added time and cost.
Given the substantial triangular wing of the FB-22 and the possibility of eliminating the tail, it bears a striking resemblance to what we have seen with the Chengdu sixth-generation aircraft.
In fact, the US military has been monitoring China’s Chengdu sixth-generation aircraft for quite some time. As early as the 2017 US Military Power Report, it first mentioned China’s development of a medium-sized stealth bomber. Since 2019, the Chinese Military Power Report has annually referenced a bomber referred to as JHXX. From the photos, Chengdu’s bomber carries the designation 36, likely the J-36 or JH-36. This aircraft lacks vertical tail fins and utilizes a blended wing body structure with five flap systems behind each wing for directional control.
An aviation expert told “Aviation Week & Space Technology” that the length of these wing systems does not exceed 25 cm, suggesting that China may not have mastered thrust vectoring and flying wing control technology.
Another prominent feature of the J-36 is the use of three engines and three air intakes. Two intakes are located below the fuselage similar to the F-22, while the third intake is on the back. American aviation experts believe that using three engines will significantly increase the aircraft’s weight, potentially reducing its range and payload capacity.
These three engines could likely be variants of the WS-10 or WS-15 engines. The reason China may opt for three engines could be to enhance power output for future intensive electronic warfare applications or to mix bypass air and exhaust to cool the aircraft’s tail, reducing its thermal signature.
According to a report by the US Department of Defense, China currently lacks the capability to produce variable cycle engines similar to those used in the US. Variable cycle engines function as turbofans at low speeds and can switch to a afterburning mode at high speeds, optimizing thrust across all flight regimes. American aircraft like the NGAD and SR-71 Blackbird utilize variable cycle engines, allowing for higher cruising speeds.
An American aerospace technology expert stated that the third engine on the J-36 is either a brilliant solution combining power and stealth, or a poorly designed feature carrying unnecessary weight during flight.
Another flight expert expressed that the J-36 reminds him of Lockheed Martin’s FB-22 because of their large size and initial design similarities with the J-20. The introduction of the FB-22 was due to the cancellation of the US Air Force’s next-generation bomber program, serving as a temporary solution.
He mentioned that the FB-22 was a straightforward cost-effective measure, reusing the F-22’s body and systems and extending and enlarging the wings to accommodate more weapons and fuel. Similarly, if China’s H-20 bomber program faces delays, there’s a likelihood that the Chinese Air Force might push for Chengdu to develop a medium stealth bomber as an alternative.
Let’s now turn our attention to another article by Rick Joe in the American magazine “Diplomat.” His perspective mirrors that of “Aviation Week & Space Technology.” He believes that the J-36 displays many similarities with the J-20 from 14 years ago. His initial assessment suggests that the J-36’s length is 22 meters with a wingspan of 20 meters, indicating a substantial aircraft likely weighing over 50 tons, supported by dual-wheel main landing gear, demonstrating its significant payload capacity.
He argues that when describing the J-36, the term “fighter” may no longer be appropriate as the next-generation aircraft fundamentally serves as a high-performance weaponized command platform, possessing command, networking, and weapon deployment capabilities akin to an airborne destroyer or cruiser concept.
Regarding whether the J-36 should be defined as a sixth-generation aircraft, he suggests waiting for the US Air Force’s NGAD program.
In summary, American experts view Chengdu’s sixth-generation fighter as a larger aerial platform capable of carrying more weapons. Its operational concept resembles a combat bomber while incorporating some fifth-generation fighter characteristics like no vertical tail, low detectability, and advanced flying wing control technology.
The likeliest scenario is that the H-20 project faces setbacks, leading to the J-36 serving as a medium stealth bomber substitute. This project has progressed since at least 2017 and has been mentioned in various US annual reports on Chinese military power.
Compared to China’s previous combat bombers like the JH-7, the J-36 represents a significant leap in performance. However, labeling it as a sixth-generation fighter may be premature. Crucially, a defining feature of sixth-generation fighters – the variable cycle engine remains a considerable technological hurdle for China to overcome.
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“Exploration Time” (New Channel “Military Intelligence Bureau”) program produced by the program group