The Chinese People's Liberation Army J-36 fighter jet adopts a rare side-by-side dual-seat layout, with a thick and sturdy nose section, featuring an overall design that is highly futuristic. Some mainland netizens have described it as "resembling a starship." (Image source / taken from Observer Network)

According to reports by the "Rumor" channel of the Chinese media outlet Observer Network, citing a report from The War Zone, a channel under U.S. "The Drive," the first publicly released frontal photo of the PLA J-36 fighter jet confirms long-standing speculations. The aircraft features a large bubble-shaped cockpit capable of accommodating two pilots sitting side by side, with a design style similar to that of the American F-111 and Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers.

The War Zone noted that while the side-by-side seating arrangement facilitates communication and coordination between crew members, it also increases the cross-sectional area of the nose, leading to higher air resistance and radar cross-section. However, for the J-36, which is positioned as a "sixth-generation" fighter, the focus lies in supersonic cruise capability and battlefield awareness. It is rumored to be equipped with three powerful engines, sufficient to overcome the aerodynamic disadvantages of its layout.

An article on the Observer Network's military commentary pointed out that the side-by-side seating arrangement also helps address the increasing volume of battlefield information input. Even with artificial intelligence assistance, dual-person collaborative operations are still required to share tasks. This design further corroborates the tactical positioning of the J-36 as a "high-speed flight, one-hit departure" aircraft.

The newly exposed photos also showcased the dual intake duct design on the upper fuselage and underside of the J-36, with the underside featuring a Garrett-style trapezoidal intake similar to that of the U.S. F-22 fighter, highlighting its superior supersonic performance. Additionally, the aircraft's nose features large optical sensor windows that reportedly emit a golden glow under certain lighting conditions, sparking speculation about its advanced sensing equipment.

In the meantime, new developments have emerged regarding another "Northern System"-developed "North Sixth Generation" fighter, the J-50. According to reports, high-definition images provide the first complete display of the aircraft's integrated side and upper fuselage design details, with its massive nose drawing attention and being speculated to house a high-performance active phased array radar.

The analysis indicates that given China's advantages in ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles and radar technology, the J-50 is expected to possess unprecedented long-range strike capabilities. The photos also show that the aircraft is equipped with binary thrust vectoring engines similar to those of the F-22, indicating its design priority in aerial combat maneuverability. The configuration of the dual-wheel forward landing gear has led some to speculate about its potential as a carrier-based aircraft.

The article also notes that the simultaneous exposure of high-definition images of China's two southern and northern sixth-generation fighters occurs as the U.S. once again threatens to impose a new round of sanctions on China. Some Chinese netizens jokingly commented, "The higher the tariff, the lower they fly!" and humorously remarked, "Some people can only understand the sound of the big stick."

The J-36 fighter jet, described by netizens as "resembling a starship." (Phoenix Military)

Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511498449406165519/

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