PLA next/6th generation fighter thread

[AndrewS]

Could it be possible it's 2 normal turbofans + 1 efficient engine for long range cruising?

Doubtful.

Best to optimise the engines for maximum thrust (whether dry or afterburner).

Then you can shut down whatever engines aren't actually required for a given speed.

Call it 1.5-2 tonnes of fuel per engine per hour.

 

[Overbom]

But if you can't stack back to back PL-15 isn't the long IWB a waste of space? Yeah maybe you can use it for strike roles but for A2A BVR, apart from PL-17, PL-15 is what you want to use.

Maybe they factored in the increased length for a next gen BVR missile.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

J-XD1, J-XD2, J-XDS, J-XDC, J-XXX, the proliferation of names for these new platforms is getting to be a bit too much.

I think using J-XDC for Chengdu AC and J-XDS for Shenyang AC is better for the time being. Easy to differentiate, standardizes naming and helps avoid confusion.

What do you guys think? @Blitzo @Deino

 

[phrozenflame]

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According to Oedosoldier, SAC 6th gen made first flight on 20th December.

 

[polati]

Wasn't the chengdu 6th gen named 3601 on the high res photo? So J-36 should be the name right?

 

[sequ]

Wasn't the chengdu 6th gen named 3601 on the high res photo? So J-36 should be the name right?

It indeed is the case:

J-36 confirmed!

View attachment 141641​

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Wasn't the chengdu 6th gen named 3601 on the high res photo? So J-36 should be the name right?

We have the 3101 or 31001 demonstrator/prototype before, and in the end it turns out both PLAAF and PLAN variants are named J-35/A instead of J-31. So I think for now, having them named as J-XDC and J-XDS is the safer option until more concrete/official information regarding their naming comes to light in the future.

 

[CaribouTruth]

But if you can't stack back to back PL-15 isn't the long IWB a waste of space? Yeah maybe you can use it for strike roles but for A2A BVR, apart from PL-17, PL-15 is what you want to use.

Maybe they factored in the increased length for a next gen BVR missile.

Its possible that there might be cascading storage for such missiles and the whole IWB was possibly designed for something else as its main priority eg. AShBM

 

[Nx4eu]

Doesn't there seem to be 1 long main weapons bay and 2 side smaller weapons bays next to it?

 

[siegecrossbow]

J-36 confirmed!

View attachment 141641​

It is only slightly better than J-35, not a sixth gen at all.