MILITARY
Wat we weten over de zesde generatie stealthjagers van China
January 14, 2025 - China has flown two new prototypes of its sixth-generation fighter aircraft, a move that could potentially challenge U.S. aerial dominance in Asia.
Both aircraft, tentatively dubbed the J-36 and J-50, share tailless airframes. This configuration maximises stealth by reducing the radar cross-section, but at some cost to manoeuvrability. Both also appear designed for supersonic flight.
Of the two, the J-50 is the more conventional in terms of size and its twin engine, swept-wing configuration. The J-36, by contrast, features a modified delta wing design and a third jet engine on its spine in addition to two underslung engines. No operational combat aircraft past or present has three forward-thrust jet engines, Popular Mechanics said.
- China just unveiled two new sixth-gen stealth fighters (Popular Mechanics)
- Two Chinese stealth aircraft programmes emerge unexpectedly (Janes)
- Chengdu J-36 stealth fighter (Army Recognition)
- Shenyang J-50 stealth fighter (Army Recognition)
- China’s J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority (Asia Times)