PLA next/6th generation fighter thread

[ACuriousPLAFan]

@Nx4eu Really appreciate your brilliant effort.

Here's wondering whether it is possible for the internal weapons bay (IWB) on the J-XD to have deeper depths, such that 4, 6 or even 8 PL-15 or PL-17-type missiles can be arranged in 2x2, 2x3 or even 2x4 configuration? The aircraft and missile designers would either need to develop mechanisms for the missiles arranged in the bottom row to be suspended from the missiles arranged in the top row inside the IWB, otherwise it could be some kind of rotary missile launcher typically found on bombers.

This would mean an IWB with a narrower width (perhaps similar to that of the J-20 (estimated 2-2.25 meters), but having twice the depth), which should make the bottom twin side engine intakes design possible (if not larger) in order to maintain intake airflow for maneuverability during combat situations (if unavoidable). It's still a J-XD, after all.

Just my two cents.

 

[Nx4eu]

@Nx4eu Really appreciate your brilliant effort.

Here's wondering whether it is possible for the internal weapons bay (IWB) on the J-XD to have deeper depths, such that 4, 6 or even 8 PL-15 or PL-17-type missiles can be arranged in 2x2, 2x3 or even 2x4 configuration? The aircraft and missile designers would either need to develop mechanisms for the missiles arranged in the bottom row to be suspended from the missiles arranged in the top row inside the IWB, otherwise it could be some kind of rotary missile launcher typically found on bombers.

This would mean an IWB with a narrower width (perhaps similar to that of the J-20 (estimated 2-2.25 meters), but having twice the depth), which should make the bottom twin side engine intakes design possible (if not larger) in order to maintain intake airflow for maneuverability during combat situations (if unavoidable). It's still a J-XD, after all.

Just my two cents.

Would you happen to know how deep the weapons bay needs to be to achieve that sort of configuration? Because with a top intake configuration, I can see on my model that a weapons bay would be able to reach as deep as 1m or so.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Would you happen to know how deep the weapons bay needs to be to achieve that sort of configuration? Because with a top intake configuration, I can see on my model that a weapons bay would be able to reach as deep as 1m or so.

No verifiable answer as of present, but rumored to be somewhere between 0.5 and 0.8 meters.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

looking good, in fact very good … my only concern is that the guy told me there would be an air-intake on top of the fuselage!

My question is that did he say "there would be an air-intake on top of the fuselage" or "there would only be an air-intake on top of the fuselage"?

 

[Deino]

My question is that did he say "there would be an air-intake on top of the fuselage" or "there would only be an air-intake on top of the fuselage"?

I don’t know

 

[Alfa_Particle]

I don’t know

Fair enough

 

[drowingfish]

@Nx4eu Really appreciate your brilliant effort.

Here's wondering whether it is possible for the internal weapons bay (IWB) on the J-XD to have deeper depths, such that 4, 6 or even 8 PL-15 or PL-17-type missiles can be arranged in 2x2, 2x3 or even 2x4 configuration? The aircraft and missile designers would either need to develop mechanisms for the missiles arranged in the bottom row to be suspended from the missiles arranged in the top row inside the IWB, otherwise it could be some kind of rotary missile launcher typically found on bombers.

This would mean an IWB with a narrower width (perhaps similar to that of the J-20 (estimated 2-2.25 meters), but having twice the depth), which should make the bottom twin side engine intakes design possible (if not larger) in order to maintain intake airflow for maneuverability during combat situations (if unavoidable). It's still a J-XD, after all.

Just my two cents.

well they can always arrange the engines as OOO but the middle one is slightly higher. that way there is more space in the back for a longer IWB to accommodate bigger AAMs.

 

[Blitzo]

@Nx4eu Really appreciate your brilliant effort.

Here's wondering whether it is possible for the internal weapons bay (IWB) on the J-XD to have deeper depths, such that 4, 6 or even 8 PL-15 or PL-17-type missiles can be arranged in 2x2, 2x3 or even 2x4 configuration? The aircraft and missile designers would either need to develop mechanisms for the missiles arranged in the bottom row to be suspended from the missiles arranged in the top row inside the IWB, otherwise it could be some kind of rotary missile launcher typically found on bombers.

This would mean an IWB with a narrower width (perhaps similar to that of the J-20 (estimated 2-2.25 meters), but having twice the depth), which should make the bottom twin side engine intakes design possible (if not larger) in order to maintain intake airflow for maneuverability during combat situations (if unavoidable). It's still a J-XD, after all.

Just my two cents.

IMO for a fighter/A2A oriented aircraft, stacking or rotary configurations offers some risk that a bomber (which stacks and rotates their weapons) doesn't have.

I do think that a more flat/rectangular prism weapons bay arrangement can still enable a large loadout, something like the J-20, J-35/A, F-22 configuration but a little deeper (to accommodate PL-17 diameter weapons) but much larger, like below. A wider, moderate depth bay means your air intakes can still be mounted on the side. Then again, the airframe I depict below is relatively large. I'm not sure if the real thing would have such an expansive length and wingspan.