Recently, the first正面 photos of China's "J-36" ultra-heavy sixth-generation tactical jet aircraft have been revealed, drawing global attention. This set of images clearly showcases the unique design of the J-36, particularly its wide nose and bubble canopy, highlighting its strong potential as a next-generation stealth fighter.

The frontal photos of the J-36 reveal its unusually wide nose design, with a large bubble canopy on top that can accommodate two crew members seated side by side, similar to the layout of the F-111 and Su-34. This design not only enhances the pilots' field of vision but also provides ample space for advanced avionics systems and sensors. The large apertures on the sides of the nose glow golden in low-angle light, suggesting it is equipped with a high-performance electro-optical/infrared system for precise target detection and tracking, even with wide-field all-around detection capabilities. If combined with its high flight speed and cruising altitude, its downward-facing wide-range reconnaissance capability will be a significant advantage. You can even imagine enemy fighters facing a sudden rain of missiles descending from above.

In addition, the J-36 adopts a three-engine configuration, with the distinctive "humpback" supersonic intake without diverter at the back being particularly eye-catching. This intake optimizes aerodynamic performance, ensuring efficient engine operation during supersonic flight while reducing radar cross-section and enhancing stealth capabilities. The large nose may house a powerful active phased array radar, whose size and performance could surpass those of current fighters, providing the J-36 with super-strong detection and fire control capabilities. These devices enable ultra-long-range target detection, multi-target tracking, and accurate identification in complex electromagnetic environments. At the same time, the large nose also lays the foundation for a more powerful onboard computer system, supporting real-time data fusion and processing, enabling the J-36 to quickly build an overall battlefield situation, significantly improving combat effectiveness. In other words, the J-36 may not need an airborne early warning aircraft for situational awareness,凭借 its own super radar it has the capability to guide long-range air-to-air missiles, and its electronic warfare capability is also very strong.

The delta wing design of the J-36 appears compact from the side view, but the front view reveals its impressive size and mass. The wide fuselage and lower trapezoidal intake optimize airflow management while maintaining low detectability. The wide design of the nose not only enhances structural strength but also provides more space for weapon bays and advanced electronics. This "scale and stealth coexist" design philosophy gives the J-36 significant advantages in firepower, range, and battlefield perception capabilities.
With the rapid development of long-range air-to-air missiles, the demand for onboard situational awareness equipment has significantly increased. The nose design of the J-36 fully reflects this trend.
Just before the frontal photos of the J-36 were revealed, clear side and underside views of another sixth-generation fighter from Shenyang were also displayed. This aircraft is slightly smaller in size, designed for single-seat use, and its nose obviously can accommodate a very large and powerful active phased array radar. It shows the emphasis placed on the size of the onboard radar in China's new generation of fighter platforms.
Overall, the large nose, advanced avionics systems, and all-around stealth performance give China's two sixth-generation fighters significant advantages in future air combat, especially in terms of situational awareness and the application of long-range weapons.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514124638650204672/
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