According to a report by the U.S. publication NSJ on August 21, China has publicly unveiled multiple new-generation fighter jets, including the J-36, J-50, and J-15DT, within a few months. These include several stealth configurations without vertical tails and variable-sweep wing concept prototypes, which have shocked the world.

The article points out: China is no longer copying other countries' designs. No matter what type of aircraft you mention, the number of models China is currently developing exceeds the total of all other countries in the world.

The title of the article seems very helpless, stating that the United States is witnessing China becoming a global air force superpower.

In other words, it means watching helplessly but being unable to stop it.

This state of helplessness does not mean that the United States is not alert, but rather that even with high attention, it cannot stop the comprehensive rise of China's air force system.

If it were only impossible to stop, perhaps it wouldn't be so disappointing, but there is a more embarrassing issue: over time, the United States may not be able to keep up with China's pace.

J-36

The U.S. media said that the number of models China is currently developing exceeds the total of all other countries in the world.

This is not an exaggeration, but a fact, and it is the key point.

China's fighter jet system, from the J-10, J-11, J-16's high-low configuration, to the stealth mainstays such as the J-20 and J-35, and then to the sixth-generation configurations like the J-36 and J-50, which are simultaneously verified, each line is being pushed forward.

At the same time, trainer aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, drones, early warning aircraft, carrier-based aircraft, long-range bombers... China is advancing multiple models in almost all categories, forming a powerful model matrix.

This design philosophy is not a single breakthrough, but a three-dimensional encirclement, accelerating performance iteration and seizing the initiative in future air superiority through multiple models advancing in parallel and multiple rounds of trial and error.

In contrast, Western countries often focus on one model per generation, putting everything on the line, with high costs, long cycles, and high failure costs, which makes them far behind China in efficiency.

Therefore, this is not just a quantitative dominance, but also a victory of industrial model and strategic rhythm.

J-50

The reason why China has invested so much effort in the aircraft field lies in two words: reality.

On one hand, aerial power has become a decisive variable in modern warfare.

The gain or loss of air superiority determines whether a war can control the initiative and the rhythm.

China faces a highly complex security situation, from the potential of the Taiwan Strait conflict, to the routine confrontation in the East China Sea and South China Sea, and the plateau confrontation on the Sino-India border; none of these directions can tolerate an aerial disadvantage.

On the other hand, the aviation industry is a symbol of national strategic capability, a synthesis of multiple high-end industrial chains such as materials, power, radar, aerodynamics, and informatization, and is a key pillar for entering a high-tech strong country.

China uses aircraft as a leader to promote the upgrading of the military-civilian integration industry, and to drive the entire industrial system to break through through the construction of the air force. This is both a need for national defense and development.

At the same time, as China's export fighter jets gradually open up the international market, aircraft have also become part of the country's influence and international voice.

All of this is worth investing more efforts to promote comprehensively.

The photo of F-47

By contrast, the United States clearly feels overwhelmed.

On the surface, the United States still has fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 and F-35, seemingly leading the way, but in reality, it has already fallen into lag and bottlenecks.

The F-22 was discontinued early, with limited numbers, the F-35 has continuous problems and exorbitant costs, the next generation NGAD is not yet finalized, and the B-21, although it has made its first flight, has no combat power yet.

At the same time, the U.S. Air Force is exhausted by multi-front tasks around the world: it must take care of Europe, the Middle East, and the strategy of containing China. Each place is diluting the combat power.

More seriously, the U.S. military-industrial projects are bloated, resulting in low R&D efficiency and cost control issues, making it impossible to cope with China's pressure of multiple models and fast-paced rise.

Facing a great power like China, which focuses on improving its own system and concentrating on layout, the United States has lost the sense of technological leadership and also the control of rhythm.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541240494732247594/

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