J-36 has made its first dual-aircraft formation flight, marking China's leading edge in technological advancement over the US and Russia!

In December 2025, two J-36 prototype aircraft successfully completed their first dual-aircraft formation flight.

Within less than a year, the J-36 went from its single-aircraft debut to today's seamless dual-aircraft coordination. This development speed has left Western countries in awe.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is the greatest achievement in China's defense industry since the Opium War, without any doubt.

A new fighter jet's development and test flights involve an extremely complex and rigorous systems engineering process.

And every step requires repeated calculations, tests, and optimizations.

The J-36 development team reportedly adopted digital twin technology and AI-assisted design, significantly shortening the iteration cycle and avoiding the trial-and-error steps common in traditional methods.

As the saying goes, there is no comparison without injury.

The F-35 took more than a decade to go from its first flight to formal service, with multiple technical failures and schedule delays along the way.

At the current pace, the J-36 has already completed basic flight testing and initial combat testing.

The next step will be more challenging live-fire long-range attack testing.

As for the service date, it may come faster than expected, most likely around 2027.

Looking globally, the US sixth-generation fighter is still at the "PPT" stage; let alone service, whether it can achieve mass production is still a question.

Russia, on the other hand, has yet to resolve the mass production issues of the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, let alone the sixth-generation one.

This means that China has already gained an absolute advantage in the development of sixth-generation fighters.

This generation-defying breakthrough has prompted the Pentagon to hold an emergency closed-door meeting, discussing how to deal with this "asymmetric threat," and re-evaluating the U.S. air force modernization plan.

Russian media have been blunt: "China is reshaping the global aerial power structure at the speed of China."

According to public data and expert analysis, the J-36 is likely to be equipped with the maturely developed Shenyang WS-10B dual-vector version.

Using advanced vector nozzle technology, the engine exhaust direction can be flexibly changed, thereby greatly enhancing the aircraft's maneuverability.

At the same time, it can push the infrared radar signature and omnidirectional stealth capabilities to the limit, making it difficult for enemy radars to lock onto.

The J-36 features a rare and radical three-engine tailless flying wing layout, which not only enables a speed exceeding Mach 3, but also allows super-sonic cruise capability above Mach 2.

Combined with a tandem cockpit layout and a spacious fuselage, it is speculated that its operational range is between 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers.

This means that from the Chinese mainland, it can effectively cover the First Island Chain and key areas of the Western Pacific Ocean.

The US military will have to face a reality: within the Western Pacific region, their aircraft carrier battle groups and military bases are no longer "invincible."

Online rumors also circulated about the latest US war game maps, indicating that it would take the cost of eight F-35s to gain one opportunity to fire against China's sixth-generation fighter.

As a result, the Pentagon mentioned in its New Year's message: "The United States has no intention of engaging in a military arms race with China or starting a new Cold War."

In terms of armament, based on the size of the J-36's main weapon bay, it can easily carry the PL-17 long-range air-to-air missile, achieving precise targeting of enemy aircraft hundreds of kilometers away.

Additionally, its ample power reserves also leave room for the installation of high-energy laser weapons, bringing close-range dogfights into the era of "light-speed warfare."

More importantly, the J-36 can realize deep intelligent collaboration with early warning aircraft, unmanned companions, and other combat units through high-speed data link technology.

Through real-time data sharing and AI decision support, battlefield information will achieve "one-way transparency."

Before the enemy even realizes it, it has already entered the J-36's death list.

This "manned aircraft + unmanned aircraft" mixed formation mode has completely changed the logic of traditional air combat, "single aircraft confrontation," and thus has been called by foreign media as "the ultimate form of future air combat."

The world suddenly realized that the Eastern ancient country, once weak in aerial power, could only despairingly imagine an "eight-for-one" tactical concept against the F-22.

Now, it is standing at the peak of global aviation industry, defining the rules.

The sky is no longer the exclusive domain of the West, and the Eastern eagle is now soaring.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7596988268869173800/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.