PLAN 6th gen carrierborne fighter thread

[Alfa_Particle]

(Discussion moved here to avoid derailing original thread.)


Well, that's the problem.

WS-15 has been developed (or shall I say, tailor-made) with the J-20/A in mind, and that the J-20 wasn't planned for carrier-based operations in the first place. So if this situation does happen (i.e. navalized variant of WS-15 isn't ready in time as interim engine for the J-XDSH), then the WS-10H must be ready, no matter what.

In the meantime, given that the probable J-XDSH likely won't be entering service onboard PLAN CV(N)s until the mid-2030s - Given the additional time available for the AECC and SAC engineers, the best-case scenario would be having the new J-XDSH units to use WS-XX from the get-go. But then, I'm still very cautiously optimistic and borderline pessimistic.

I would suspect after the alleged 2018 revamp they would future-proof it too tbh

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Mmm. Some interesting patent applications from the Northwestern Polytechnical University (西工大) on 6th-gen carrier-based fighters, with an illustration depicting the J-XDS in one of the patent documents. Note that the illustration may or may not be related to the actual J-XDS project itself.

Posted by @nuwangzi on Twitter.

 

[Tomboy]

Mmm. Some interesting patent applications from the Northwestern Polytechnical University (西工大) on 6th-gen carrier-based fighters, with an illustration depicting the J-XDS in one of the patent documents. Posted by @nuwangzi on Twitter.

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Are you sure? This is describing a variable sweep wing aircraft with a complete different nozzle and aft design than the current J-XDS. This is probably just some generic graphic or a completely different project especially considering this isn't directly related to SAC.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

... Let's just say that Adorable Dolphin literally threw a spanner into the discussion of (affirming) the J-XDS being carrier-capable.

Adorable Dolphin (quote-posting a CGI of the J-XDS onboard a carrier): The carrier-based 6th-gen fighter/manned warplane hasn't make its first flight, and (thus) there is no way of telling whether the southern side (Chengdu AC) or the northern side (Shenyang AC) would win

 

[mack8]

What does it say?

 

[tphuang]

... Let's just say that Adorable Dolphin literally threw a spanner into the discussion of (affirming) the J-XDS being carrier-capable.

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I see no reason on that. He just says it hasn’t flown yet, which is unsurprising since J35 just about joined service and project started much later.

the claim was never that JXDS is a naval project but rather it could be the basis for a future naval project.

 

[Nevermore]

He stated that the sixth-generation carrier-based fighter has not yet undergone test flights, and it remains unclear whether Shenyang Aircraft Corporation or Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group will secure the naval order for the sixth-generation fighter.

If his statement is true, it implies that China may be developing a dedicated new sixth-generation carrier-based fighter jet. Meanwhile, the J-36 or J-XDS may both be fighter jets for the Air Force.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

As an additional note:

寒霜傲雪2021: (Does that mean the) J-36 can make it onboard aircraft carriers?

QWERTY1582: (Probably teasing/mocking SDF) Cute killer whale probably said that the South-6 (i.e. J-36) and the North-6 (i.e. J-XDS) are for the PLAAF, the carrier-based 6th-gen hasn't take off, and that doesn't necessary belong to the northern side (i.e. SAC). Sinodefence probably will soon have posts saying "cute killer whale says..." (doge)

机号五獭獭: He's called cute orca

QWERTY1582: The English translated version on Weibo shows cute killer whale

I suppose we're going to have SinoDefenceForum-nology soon?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

I see no reason on that. He just says it hasn’t flown yet, which is unsurprising since J35 just about joined service and project started much later.

the claim was never that JXDS is a naval project but rather it could be the basis for a future naval project.

He stated that the sixth-generation carrier-based fighter has not yet undergone test flights, and it remains unclear whether Shenyang Aircraft Corporation or Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group will secure the naval order for the sixth-generation fighter.

If his statement is true, it implies that China may be developing a dedicated new sixth-generation carrier-based fighter jet. Meanwhile, the J-36 or J-XDS may both be fighter jets for the Air Force.

Given the presently known developments, I do believe that any of these two options is viable.

Namely:
#1 - While both the J-36 and J-XDS will be procured by the PLAAF, there should be a carrier-based variant of the J-XDS for the PLAN somewhere to the rear in terms of developmental work compared to its air force counterpart; OR
#2 - Both the J-36 and J-XDS are dedicated for PLAAF service, whereas a completely separate 6th-gen manned fighter/warplane design/project for the PLAN carriers is still in the works and hasn't seen the light of day yet.

There are also other comments suggesting that the J-36 and J-XDS are actually rivaling submissions from the CAC and SAC respectively for the PLAAF's 6th-gen manned fighter/warplane program, though I rate this highly unlikely given the vast gulf of differences between the two airframes.

 

[mack8]

Well, recall how long it took from FC-31, through FC-31V2 to eventually the J-35 prototype. I recall back in 2012 or so one of the first artworks of FC-31 was carrier based. This is not to say that a similar time could or should ellapse until the J-50H prototype, that was a mistake as i pointed with other occasions, hopefully the great delay/diddle-dwaddle in the case of J-35 won't be repeated, but there might be a few years until a J-50H could fly. Ideally several prototypes or even LRIP should be timed with the commissioning of the 004 CVN.

A 3rd bespoke carrier 6th gen fighter is possible, but imo even for China that's probably too many 6th gen airframes, the 5th gen only has two, the 4th gen only 2 as well etc. But whatever they do, they need a 6th gen carrier fighter just as badly as they needed (hence the fast development) 6th gens for PLAAF, in order to compensate to the still great numerical disparity vs the USN by having a superior fighter, disparity which is even worse than for PLAAF vs USAF.