Recently, a set of videos showing the J-20S accompanying the sixth-generation fighter jet J-36 have been publicly released on the Internet, which has given a clear understanding of the size of the J-36.
The J-20 is already the largest heavy stealth fighter in the world, and the J-36 is even larger. Its wingspan exceeds 20 meters. For comparison, the J-20's wingspan is only 13 meters, and the Su-27's wingspan is only 14.7 meters. With such dimensions, its maximum takeoff weight is definitely over 50 tons.
Because of its enormous size, the J-36 uses three engines. Using three engines ensures that the tail of the J-36 is flat and the lines narrow, which is very important for reducing drag and stealth.
A negative example is the F-35, which must use a single large thrust for vertical takeoff and landing. The solution was to increase the bypass ratio of the F119 engine, making the engine thicker by a circle, increasing the weight by 680 kilograms, and making the F-35's back fat and round, thus leading to very poor supersonic performance and maneuverability.
Such a huge size directly brings two benefits. First, it allows the integration of a larger and more powerful airborne radar system. The nose of the J-36 is extremely large, not only allowing for twin cockpits side by side, but also having more than 3000 nitrogen gallium T/R components in the radar. Even with simple stacking, the J-36 can detect stealth targets like the F-35 from over 300 kilometers away. More importantly, we are sure to upgrade the radar technology of the J-36 again. It can be said that the J-36 itself is equivalent to an early warning aircraft with anti-stealth capabilities.
It can be said that the huge size of the aircraft not only provides unparalleled detection and tracking capabilities, but more importantly, it gives it the unique strong electromagnetic suppression and spectrum warfare capabilities that are typical of dedicated electronic warfare aircraft.
It can independently carry out wide-area electromagnetic reconnaissance, high-intensity accompanying electronic interference, and precise hard kill tasks against enemy radars and communication systems while performing air superiority and strike missions. Thus, it can seize and firmly control the electromagnetic spectrum at the beginning of air combat, creating a one-way transparent information advantage environment for our combat system.
Naturally, it also brings a large internal weapons bay, which makes it possible to integrate hypersonic missiles inside. Hypersonic weapons, with their extreme speed of over 5 Mach and unpredictable maneuvering flight paths, cannot be intercepted by any existing air defense and anti-missile systems. They are strategic-level weapons that can change the rules of future battlefields.
However, such weapons are usually large in size and have traditionally been launched from large bombers or ground/ship-based platforms. The J-36 can integrate these weapons into its internal weapons bay, completely changing the traditional mode of aerial attacks.
This means an air platform with all-directional stealth capabilities, high maneuverability, and the ability to cruise at hypersonic speeds, carrying and launching a strategic-level strike weapon that is almost impossible to intercept. This combination brings unprecedented tactical value: the sixth-generation fighter can penetrate the enemy's tight air defense network with its stealth capabilities, approach within effective range, and release hypersonic missiles from its belly weapons bay to conduct sudden and devastating precision strikes on high-value time-sensitive targets deep within the enemy's territory, such as command centers, air defense and anti-missile positions, and aircraft carriers.
The combination of "stealth penetration" and "hypersonic assault" greatly compresses the enemy's warning and response time, thereby gaining control of the battlefield.
Even without penetration, the J-36 does not need to risk entering the enemy's powerful air defense fire zone. It can launch hypersonic missiles from relatively safe airspace under our control, utilizing its initial altitude and speed. After obtaining a high initial speed and high-altitude starting point, the missile's effective range can be significantly increased. Therefore, missiles launched from the South China Sea can cover the U.S. military base on Guam, putting it within the strike range.
Moreover, the J-36's enormous internal weapons bay can also accommodate the PL-17 long-range air-to-air missile. This allows it to destroy enemy aircraft from over 500 kilometers away. Our J-36 can carry multiple PL-17 air-to-air missiles. With the support of high-performance drones, it can conduct long-range interception of enemy aircraft, bombers, refueling aircraft, and early warning aircraft hundreds of kilometers away. Thanks to its powerful stealth capabilities, enemy aircraft may be shot down without even realizing it. It can be said that the PL-17 will be the strongest partner of China's sixth-generation fighter jets.
At this point, have you understood, dear friends, that the J-36 is the embodiment of the Chinese integrated operational network system, meaning one aircraft can achieve the capabilities of an air formation composed of early warning aircraft, fighter jets, electronic warfare aircraft, and bombers.
This is the summary of China's development of U.S. fifth-generation fighters. China believes that being obsessed with platform strength while ignoring the system construction will make the F-22 become an "information island." On the other hand, neglecting platform development and expecting system capabilities to emerge is like building castles in the air. Future development should focus on the parallel and coordinated development of platforms and systems, using strong platforms to build strong systems. The J-36 is the product of this concept.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7567406279812071978/
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