Latest clip showcases China's tailless, three-engine combat aircraft, stirring excitement among military aviation circles
🤘 Yeah, check this out! Chinese fighter jet enthusiasts and military analysts are buzzing over fresh images of one of China's top-secret futuristic jets, called the J-36.
This bad boy is a three-engine, tailless flying wing aircraft that's been making waves in the aviation world. A six-second video featuring the J-36 appeared on Chinese social media – no one's quite sure when it was recorded, but it shows the jet soaring over a highway near the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group factory.
Images of the J-36 first popped up on Chinese social media towards the end of last year, catching the attention of a lot of folks. More pictures and footage were released last month, adding fuel to the fire.
Experts estimate that the J-36 is a sixth-generation aircraft, incorporating the latest stealth technology, avionics, powerplant, and airframe engineering. military aviation expert David Cenciotti, who runs The Aviationist website, says the video provides an up-close look at the design of the J-36.
Cenciotti points out that the J-36 has a unique engine arrangement, with two engine intakes under the wings and a dorsally-mounted intake behind the cockpit. This setup has advantages in terms of thrust and redundancy, he explains.
There's also plenty of room on the J-36's belly for internal weapons bays, which could allow the aircraft to carry long-range strike missiles.
With the J-36, China could potentially catch up to, or surpass, the United States in the race to field a sixth-generation fighter. America's fifth-generation jets – the twin-engine F-22 and single-engine F-35 – are generally considered the best in the world right now. China also has two fifth-generation models, the J-20 and J-35, but neither has seen combat or proven its effectiveness like the US fighter jets.
Trump announced last month that a contract for the US Air Force's sixth-generation fighter – the F-47 – had been awarded to Boeing. However, the Air Force hasn't given any details about when the F-47 jets will be ready for action.
It looks like China isn't resting on its laurels, though. Alongside the J-36, China also seems to be developing another sixth-generation fighter, called the J-50. Photos of the J-50 were posted online around the same time as the J-36, but neither aircraft has been officially acknowledged by the People's Liberation Army.
So, China's got two sixth-generation fighters in the works – and they're making serious advancements in stealth technology and air warfare capabilities. It's going to be a tight race to see who comes out on top! 🔥🥊💥
- The J-36, a sixth-generation aircraft in development by China, has been capturing the attention of the world, even military analysts like David Cenciotti of The Aviationist, as it showcases the latest stealth technology, avionics, and airframe engineering.
- Comparatively, the J-36, if completed, could potentially challenge or surpass the United States’ fifth-generation jets, such as the F-22 and F-35, in the global race for sixth-generation fighter development.
- Beyond the J-36, China is also reportedly working on another sixth-generation fighter, the J-50, which like the J-36, remains unacknowledged by the People’s Liberation Army but has generated interest in Asia and beyond.
