Next-Generation Fighter Jet Showdown... Why the US Air Force Mocks China's 6th Generation Fighter 'J-36'

China Hints at Development of 6th Generation Fighter J-36
U.S.: "The True 6th Generation Fighter is the F-47"

An image of an aircraft presumed to be the prototype of China's 6th generation fighter jet J-36, reportedly test-flown over Chengdu, China, last December. X (formerly Twitter)

As the United States officially announced the development of the 6th generation fighter jet F-47, China also posted a video hinting at the development of its own 6th generation fighter jet. The U.S. downplays China's claim that it has been test flying a newly developed fighter jet since December last year. This is because, despite China investing massive resources to catch up with U.S. military technology, it has yet to properly secure the essential engine manufacturing technology required for aircraft production.

China's CCTV Hints at Development of 6th Generation Fighter J-36

The appearance of the next-generation fighter jet revealed in the video commemorating the 27th anniversary of the J-10 fighter jet flight, released by China's CCTV on the 23rd. The first image on the right is presumed to be the J-36 fighter jet. Photo by China CCTV

China's state-run CCTV recently posted a video hinting at the development of a 6th generation fighter jet equipped with the latest features in an article commemorating the 27th anniversary of the first flight of the 4th generation fighter J-10. The video included the caption, "What comes after J-10 and J-20?" Inside and outside China, the video is interpreted as hinting at the development of the next-generation fighter known as J-36.

Chinese media promote the J-36 as a cutting-edge aircraft with technology surpassing existing fighters. The Global Times reported that the J-36 possesses broadband stealth capabilities in all aspects and is equipped with three domestically developed supersonic WS-15 engines, enabling high-speed flight. It also stated that compared to the existing J-20, the J-36 can fly for longer durations, has a larger airframe, and carries a greater weapons payload.

Notably, the report came just two days after the U.S. government officially announced the F-47 development project on the 21st, suggesting that China is signaling its next-generation fighter development in response to the U.S. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, said, "This is the first official acknowledgment of China's 6th generation fighter," adding, "It shows that it will follow J-10 and J-20. It reflects the aerial superiority competition between China and the U.S."

In December last year, a leaf-shaped aircraft presumed to be the 6th generation fighter J-36 was spotted test flying over Chengdu, China, and the footage spread on social media. However, the Chinese government has not officially announced the development or existence of the J-36.

U.S.: "The True 6th Generation Fighter is the F-47"… Doubts Over J-36's Performance

An artist's rendering of the 6th generation fighter jet F-47, released by the U.S. Air Force on the 21st (local time). Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

With the exact specifications and performance of the J-36 undisclosed, the U.S. government downplays it, saying it cannot be compared to the F-47 under development. At a press conference announcing the F-47 project, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff David Allvin stated, "China claims to have test flown a 6th generation fighter last December, but the only truly world’s first manned 6th generation fighter is the F-47."

There are also criticisms regarding the performance and durability of the engine China claims to have developed, along with skepticism about the J-36's capabilities. For example, the J-35 stealth fighter showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow in China last November was equipped with two domestically developed WS-19 engines, but its maximum takeoff weight was only 28 tons (t), reportedly less than the 31.8t takeoff weight of the F135 engine on the U.S. F-35 fighter.

Although China is investing huge funds into developing its own fighter jets, it is widely assessed that it has yet to succeed in developing engines comparable to those powering U.S. and Russian fighter forces. China developed the WS-10 engine by imitating the AL-31F engine of the Russian Su-27 fighter introduced in the 1990s, but the WS-10 is also evaluated as having very unstable output.