On April 17th, Chengfei's sixth-generation fighter J-36 (hereinafter referred to as "Cheng Six Generations") conducted the latest round of test flights and verifications, showcasing remarkable high-maneuverability actions such as small-radius turns and rolls. Despite canceling traditional aerodynamic surfaces like vertical tails, horizontal tails, and canards, J-36 still demonstrated extraordinary flexibility, dispelling the misunderstanding that it was a "clumsy bomber." We attempt to analyze from a technical perspective how J-36 achieves small-radius turn maneuverability and reveal the advanced technologies behind its design.

J-36 adopts a unique tailless delta wing aerodynamic layout combined with a diamond-shaped fuselage design, significantly optimizing high-altitude and high-speed flight as well as maneuverability. Traditional fighters rely on vertical tails, horizontal tails, and canards for stability and control, while J-36, by canceling these surfaces, reduces radar cross-section, enhancing stealth performance, while posing higher demands on aerodynamic control.

The dual-delta wing layout of J-36 provides high lift at low speeds and reduces drag at high speeds. The combination of the leading-edge sweep angle and the trailing-edge forward sweep angle optimizes aerodynamic efficiency in transonic and supersonic regions, allowing the aircraft to maintain stability at high angles of attack.

In the test flights, J-36 demonstrated its small-radius turning capability under high-altitude and high-speed conditions, possibly due to shock wave lift enhancement technology. Through the geometric design of the fuselage and wings, J-36 can utilize the shock wave effect to increase local lift during high-angle-of-attack maneuvers, significantly improving turning rates and maneuverability. This technology is particularly effective in high-altitude and high-speed environments, compensating for the deficiencies of the tailless layout in low-speed maneuvers.

After canceling traditional surfaces, the maneuverability of J-36 highly depends on advanced flight control systems,

The flight control system of J-36 may adopt adaptive control algorithms based on artificial intelligence, capable of analyzing flight status, aerodynamic data, and environmental conditions in real time, dynamically optimizing control commands. This algorithm ensures the aircraft remains stable during extreme maneuvers (such as small-radius turns), avoiding stalls or loss of control.

The maneuverability displayed by J-36 in the test flights is inseparable from its powerful propulsion system. Currently, J-36 may be equipped with the turbofan-10 or turbofan-15 engine, or even a vector thrust engine. Once vector nozzles are used, they lay the foundation for super-maneuverability under low-altitude and low-speed conditions.

Another possibility is the use of active jet control: J-36 may integrate active jet devices at critical locations on the fuselage (such as the trailing edge of the wing or the side of the fuselage), spraying high-pressure gas to change local airflow and generate additional control moments. This technology enables pitch, yaw, and roll control without mechanical control surfaces, especially during high-angle-of-attack and small-radius turns, quickly adjusting the aircraft's attitude and enhancing maneuverability.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7495701704210514432/

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