"The J-36 and Shenyang Stealth Fighters: China’s Great Aerospace Leap" - by CWP alum Andrew Erickson

China’s Two New Stealth Fighters: Heralding Defense Industrial Warfare: It’s that time again, when end-of-the-year advancements roll out in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). On 26 December, just in time for Mao’s birthday in China and Boxing Day elsewhere, footage of two “tailless” developmental “stealth” aircraft debuted within hours. The first is a large, heavy, crewed triple-engine double-delta-wing. Analysts dub it the “J-36” based on the root of its forward fuselage (“BORT”) number (36011) . A two-seat J-20S fighter serving as chase plane suggests the delta wing may developed by the same Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.

This unprecedented diamond-shaped tailless design, with unique intake layout and angled trailing edge intersecting its thrust nozzles, eliminates a major radar signature source across bands and aspects. Capacious fuselage offers significant internal space for fuel and weapons, implying a high-altitude, high-endurance tactical combat platform. Observers’ name and role interpretations range from a JH-XX “tactical/regional bomber” to a “J-XD” or “sixth-generation fighter” (China’s counterpart to the U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance air superiority initiative). 

The second airframe is a smaller twin-engine, sharply-swept wing lacking a vertical stabilizer. Apparent use of a J-16 chase aircraft suggests it is developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. China’s two strikingly-configured new airframes have manifold features associated with the latest cohort of low-observable aircraft, including radar absorbing material and inlets and outlets positioned and shaped to minimize radar deflection. Tailessness mirrors international state-of-the-art efforts, including the Northrop Grumman B-2’s split rudders and B-21’s sleek flying wing configuration.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The J-36 and Shenyang Stealth Fighters: China’s Great Aerospace Leap

Dr. Andrew S. Erickson (艾立信) is Professor of Strategy (tenured full professor) in NWC’s China Maritime Studies Institute. A core founding member, he helped establish CMSI and stand it up officially in 2006 and has played an integral role in its development; from 2021–23 he served as Research Director. CMSI inspired the creation of other research centers, which he has advised and supported; he is a China Aerospace Studies Institute Associate. Since 2008 he has been an Associate in Research at Harvard’s Fairbank Center. Erickson has taught courses at NWC and Yonsei University, advises NWC student research and curricula and supports NWC’s scholarly research relations with Japanese counterparts.

Photo Credit: https://www.19fortyfive.com/2024/12/the-j-36-and-shenyang-stealth-fighters-chinas-great-aerospace-leap/