J-36 is a combat aircraft that pursues a different energy regime to B-21, however in terms of their most high yield characteristics and traits, they possess significant similarities.
Putting it another way -- if we cannot easily acknowledge the air superiority/A2A role that B-21 can have, then that makes us no better than people who look at J-36 and assume it's a bomber or striker.
Surely you remember this when B-21 came out, and when our mutual friend rubbished the idea of calling it a "bomber"? It is the exact same reason why calling J-36 just a "fighter" is erroneous.
On the contrary, it is not me that overfixates on maneuver, rather it is the people who look at J-36 and assume it's a bomber/striker rather than an air superiority aircraft.
That is because their vision of a "fighter" or an "air superiority aircraft" is exactly as you describe -- "a plane that fights other planes".
Instead, an air superiority aircraft should be seen as "a plane that contests and seizes air superiority".
The most [r]evolutionary impact brought about by 6th generation “aircraft” is not on combat aircraft design, but on air combat itself (why I say “aircraft” rather than “fighters”).
If we keep in mind that we are essentially describing components in an air combat system (of systems), I propose:
1.
Air Combat Nodes: anything that can serve as a node in an air combat system. This includes J-36, but you also don’t need to carry missiles to be lethal in 6th generation air combat - so manned and unmanned ISR, AEW&C, battlespace controllers etc. are included. A node initiates the air combat engagement by the system, and may or may not also be capable of delivering it (whole or part of the package).
2.
Air Combat Asset / Point / Peripheral / Endpoint / Detachment / Collaborator / Craft (a few options here): anything that is only delivering the air combat engagement, or supporting it. This would be deploying an actual weapon, providing sensors, or being an actual weapon or sensor (loitering munition or one-way CCA that becomes a cruise missile when it depletes its munitions).
