Chengdu next gen combat aircraft (?J-36) thread

[Jason_]

Part 5: People seem to like my theater level graphics a bit better so here is another one. Tbh I don't think the PLAAF need the J-36 to neutralize Kadena and the tiny islands between Okinawa and Taiwan but graphically these island airfields are dispersed enough for me to fit 4 different notional ground attack.

The main IWB is around 6m. For reference, SDB is 1.8m. 1000lb JDAM is 3m. GBU-28 5000lb bunker buster is 5.8m.

Previous infographics on the J-36:
Definition of 6th gen and possible J-36 missions
Concepts of PLAAF air superiority oriented combat drones
J-36 in OCA (will be updated to include drones)
J-36 in DCA (updated with drones)
J-36 tactics vs B-21
J-36 electronic warfare

 

[tphuang]

J-36 will have next generation ''Gallium Oxide-on-Diamond'' AESA radar tech.

China recently published studies showing its advancement in Gallium Oxide-on-Diamond RF module. The GaO-on-Diamond substrate offer 14x the thermal conductivity of GaO-on-Si as well as 7.4x that of GaO-on-Sic. Basically, Diamond substrate addresses the extremely poor thermal conductivity property of Gallium Oxide.

we have a separate thread on China Radar Technology. if you have time please do visit. some really valuable information is available.. thanks

I just want to be clear on something. I am not saying this will be on J-36 from day 1. I was simply saying that is where they will get to and that the power generation & cooling need to accommodate this. There is also GaN-on-SiC and GaN-on-diamond that could be the next step for fighter jet’s main RF emitter.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Orca hints that Xi’an is also working on a bird?

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[00CuriousObserver]

Orca hints that Xi’an is also working on a bird?

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H-20 is 6th gen obv

(but also unironically)

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Orca hints that Xi’an is also working on a bird?

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H-20 is 6th gen obv

(but also unironically)

I'm actually thinking about the H-20.

Besides, the closest Xi'an AC has ever got to the fighter domain would be the JH-7, so kinda find it hard to believe that Xi'an AC would actually be looking forward to compete with the Chengdu and Shenyang ACs in their domain of expertise and experience, if that's the actual case here.

Also, now that we think about it - Since the Americans already called their B-21 a 6th-gen, so why can't China also do that with their H-20?

Either way - Once whatever comes out of Xi'an AC, maybe we should just lock that H-20 thread, and open a new thread called "Xi'an next-gen (H/J-XX?) combat aircraft thread" instead? Considering that there wouldn't be a pure strategic bomber in the 6th-gen aerial combat systems and all...

 

[00CuriousObserver]

Either way - Once whatever comes out of Xi'an AC, maybe we should just lock that H-20 thread, and open a new thread called "Xi'an next-gen (H/J-XX?) combat aircraft thread" instead? Considering that there wouldn't be a pure strategic bomber in the 6th-gen aerial combat systems and all...

All of this talk about fighters and bombers and 6th gen and whatnot has lead me to a thought:

Perhaps we should stop thinking of specific aircrafts in generations, but rather air warfare as a whole in generations instead.

 

[pokepara]

I think you might be surprised. In China joining the military is considered by many as a last resort career, one reserved mostly for the country bumpkins. There's a youth unemployment issue in China right now because many college grads would rather sit at home and do nothing than to take a job they see as below them.

I really don't think piloting cutting edge, world-first equipment in defence of your country that's becoming ascendant on the global stage is the same as a being a standard military grunt, even granting your characterisation. I'd think being a 5th/6th gen pilot would have prestige closer to an astronaut?

 

[SlothmanAllen]

For any interested Tim Samedov created a very nice model of the Chengdu (J-36) airframe. Link:

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View attachment 142755

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This is a nice render! It helps me to understand the shape of the aircraft better.

EDIT: Also, this Tim guy is very talented. He has a ton of renders on his profile linked in the post I tweeted. Some amazing stuff!

 

[tphuang]

So another bunch of circles fro me.

Around Anchorage (Elmendorf AFB), Pearl Harbor, Diego Garcia and Perth (RAN's west fleet base). These are 4000 km circles, if we use 3000 km combat radius + 1000 km range on air launched missiles.

If you think 1000 km stand off missiles after 3000 km flight is too ambitious, I also tried 3500 km circles around Anchorage, DG and Perth


It would appear to me that J-36 getting refueled once over Russian air space on its way to Alaska or over Bay of Bengal to Diego Garcia or outside of Indonesia water on the way to Western Australia are all things they can do once you get enough YY-20As into service. The operational complexity of refueling J-36s with a bunch of drones that far out is quite high. But presumably doable if called into it.

 

[zyklon]

Part 5: People seem to like my theater level graphics a bit better so here is another one. Tbh I don't think the PLAAF need the J-36 to neutralize Kadena and the tiny islands between Okinawa and Taiwan but graphically these island airfields are dispersed enough for me to fit 4 different notional ground attack.
View attachment 142776
The main IWB is around 6m. For reference, SDB is 1.8m. 1000lb JDAM is 3m. GBU-28 5000lb bunker buster is 5.8m.

Previous infographics on the J-36:
Definition of 6th gen and possible J-36 missions
Concepts of PLAAF air superiority oriented combat drones
J-36 in OCA (will be updated to include drones)
J-36 in DCA (updated with drones)
J-36 tactics vs B-21
J-36 electronic warfare

Awesome slides, dude!

I imagine you've thought of this already, so my apologies if this is redundant, but please -- for the love of God -- watermark your slides before some social media "influencer" or garbage website like 1945 steals your work, or worse yet, mischaracterize your content as something official from the PLAAF!