| J-XX | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Combat aircraft |
| National origin | People's Republic of China |
| Designer | |
| Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| History | |
| First flight |
|
| Outcome | Chengdu develop and produce theChengdu J-20 andShenyang develop and produce theShenyang J-35 |
J-XX[2]J-X,[2][3] andXXJ[2] are names applied by Westernintelligence agencies to describe programs by thePeople's Republic of China to develop multiplefifth-generationfighter aircraft.[3][2] GeneralHe Weirong, Chief of Staff of thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), stated that China had several such programs underway and that an undesignated fifth-generation fighter developed jointly byChengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) andShenyang Aerospace Corporation (SAC) would be in service by 2018.[4]
The PLAAF unveiled the program in late 2002.[5] A December 2002Jane's Defence Weekly reported thatShenyang Aerospace Corporation had been selected to headresearch and development of the new fighter,[3] which was also stated in theNew Scientist the same week.[6] Also, a 2006 article inMilitary Technology referred to three designs; two by Shenyang Aerospace Corporation and one byChengdu Aerospace Corporation.[2] One or more of the proposed designs were believed to incorporate several design features for increasing stealth and maneuverability while decreasing weight and drag.[7][8][9]
The Chinese state television broadcasterChina Central Television (CCTV) asserts:
A V-shapedpelikan tail could be implemented, replacing conventional vertical tail fins and horizontal stabiliser structures. This would be beneficial for reduction of radar signature, weight and aerodynamic drag, since control surface area and corresponding control mechanisms are reduced. Problems faced by this type of design are flight control system complexity and control surface loading. If the pelikan tail is adopted, use of engines withthrust vector control may alleviate these problems.[10]
[...] The new fighter may have a significantly longer fuselage than other fifth generation fighter designs, such as the F-22, for reduction of transonic and supersonic drag.[11] A trapezoidal wing may be implemented for reduction of drag andradar signature.[12] Use of an 's'-shaped air inlet and boundary layer separation system would greatly reduce radar signature.[13]
According toJane's, development of thesubsystems, including anengine withthrust vectoring capability, andweapon suite for the next generation fighter had been under development.[citation needed] A photograph of awind tunnel model published with the article showed a twin-engine aircraft with twin vertical tail fins.[citation needed] The aircraft would carry its weapons internally like theF-22 Raptor.[citation needed]New Scientist called attention to the angular, faceted features of the design, comparing them to theF-117 Nighthawk.[citation needed]
In November 2009, GeneralHe Weirong, the Deputy Commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force confirmed research and development of the 5th generation stealth fighter, and gave a possible in-service date of 2017 to 2019.[4][14]
A U.S.Defense Intelligence Agency official commenting on General He's statements indicated the DIA believes a first flight of the J-XX "will occur in the next few years".[citation needed] TheU.S. Department of Defense expects China to have a handful of 5th generation fighters in service between 2020 and 2025, according to statements made byU.S. Secretary of DefenseRobert M. Gates in July 2009.[15] However, a year later, in May 2010, United States intelligence stated that Chinese 5th generation fighter jets will be expected around 2018.[16] In 2011, Gates changed his position to state that China may have 50 stealth fighters by 2020 and a couple of hundred by 2025.[17]
TheChengdu J-20 stealth fighter conducted its first flight on January 11, 2011, and entered service in 2017.[1]
Shenyang Aerospace Corporation had a proposed J-XX aircraft that was larger than theJ-20. In 2008, thePLAAF endorsedChengdu Aerospace Corporation's proposal, Project 718 (J-20).[18] Having lost the bid, Shenyang subsequently chose to internally develop an export oriented fighter based on its experience from its J-XX proposal, called FC-31.[19]Shenyang FC-31stealth fighter prototype conducted its first flight on October 31, 2012. Although initially developed without PLA commitment, the aircraft eventually received interest from the PLA Navy as a carrier aircraft, and the design evolved into theShenyang J-35.[20]
TheJH-XX is a supersonic, stealth,tactical bomber/fighter-bomber aircraft under development. JH-XX is the second stealth bomber of China confirmed in existence by the U.S. intelligence community, and the Pentagon speculates the fighter-bomber is capable of long-range strike and nuclear weapons delivery.[21][22][23][24]
In January 2019, Dr. Wang Haifeng, chief designer of theChengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) announced that China had begun pre-research on sixth-generation aircraft, predicting that the program would come to fruition by 2035.[citation needed] This program was tentatively named J-XD or sixth-generation J-XX by some Western analysts.[25]
In October 2021, a fighter aircraft with a tailless design was spotted in Chengdu Aircraft Corporation facilities.[26]
In 2018, Chengdu Aerospace Corporation reportedly submitted eight proposals for the sixth-generation fighter design, and four designs were tested in low-altitudewind tunnels.[27] In the same year,Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) also reportedly developed prototypes for the next-generation aircraft.[28]
On 26 December 2024, social media photos and videos suggestedChengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) has publicly flown a prototype aircraft inChengdu,Sichuan. TheChengdu J-36 was spotted flying around an airport owned by CAC and purportedly featured atrijet, tailless, flying-wing design. It was trailed by aChengdu J-20S twin-seater stealth fighter as thechase plane.[29][30]
On 26 December 2024, along with the J-36, further social media posts indicated that a second airframe, featuring a cranked arrow configuration with sharply swept wings, was spotted nearShenyang Aircraft Corporation's facilities.[31] Unconfirmed reports suggested the Shenyang fighter made its maiden flight on 20 December 2024. The Shenyang aircraft prototype seemed to be smaller than the Chengdu one. It was trailed by aShenyang J-16 strike fighter as the chase plane.[32][33][34] This aircraft was tentatively named Shenyang J-XD orShenyang J-50 by analysts, but information is limited.[25][35][36]