Shenyang next gen combat aircraft thread

[kurutoga]

We can't trust this 草根 person too much. He was wrong numerous times before.

 

[polati]

Given the size of the intakes in comparison to the rest of the aircraft, both the black prototype and the white one seem way too small, even smaller than the J-20. There seems to be almost no space for an IWB which holds large quantities of munitions.



Unless of course this image is accurate, in which case the DSI intakes are abnormally large? Look at the size of those things compared to the 2D TVC nozzle. Compare this intake to nozzle ratio with the F-22, it seems to not make sense? Unless there is a good reason for those huge intakes.

I find that it is much more plausible that this is the CCA given the limited IWB capability and small aircraft size (which seems, based on proportions to be smaller than even the J-35.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

Given the size of the intakes in comparison to the rest of the aircraft, both the black prototype and the white one seem way too small, even smaller than the J-20. There seems to be almost no space for an IWB which holds large quantities of munitions.

Which is a big part of my doubts. This might be a downscaled tech demo. It could even be unmanned for all we know, which is nearly nothing.

 

[siegecrossbow]

If it's not folding tailfin, how are they gonna achieve super maneuverability in fighters? Just 3D TVC?

All moving wingtips.

 

[polati]

Which is a big part of my doubts. This might be a downscaled tech demo. It could even be unmanned for all we know, which is nearly nothing.

It would be much more plausible to be the CCA platform IMO, because to scale this up would require massive changes to the airframe, by changing intake shape, almost completely altering the airframe for the inclusion of IWBs.

 

[GyrfalconFC31]

A new photo from Shenyang. There is a pitot on the head.

 

[Deino]

Which is a big part of my doubts. This might be a downscaled tech demo. It could even be unmanned for all we know, which is nearly nothing.

Is it not more likely that they are the same Aircraft and now only clearer visible?

I think the few previously known Images are either too blurry at all or orten AU-enhanced.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

Is it not more likely that they are the same Aircraft and now only clearer visible?

I think the few previously known Images are either too blurry at all or orten AU-enhanced.

I genuinely don't know. Unlike the J-36, we don't even know for sure if this has a cockpit. SAC definitely has manned 6th gen project, but is it really the ones we're seeing here?

 

[Schwerter_]

I also want to point out that this picture (22/12/2024), apparently one of the first publicized pictures of the SAC 6th gen (I really like the name SHADE as proposed by @siegecrossbow but aren’t sure if it’s widely known enough to warrant using) also has the pitot tube quite clearly visible. Incidentally, the jet in that picture also looks pretty dark.

I don’t think we can rule out anything at this point: maybe there’s 2 prototypes flying simultaneously, maybe there’s only the one and the few pictures that we have of the “black jet with no pitot tube” is simply not high-res enough or is AI-processed, maybe one of these is manned and the other a CCA, maybe it’s the same jet with different radomes (extremely unlikely but for the sake of argument). It’s nigh impossible to make a conclusion back by enough evidence at this moment.

If I may, I think treating all photos with the pitot tube as of the same jet is logical and we can safely make whatever observations and speculations of it. On the other hand, the “black jet” is a lot more problematic (a lot of pictures of it looks AI-processed which can mess things up big time) and it’s maybe best to take any and all observations made of it with a grain of salt. If in the future we get additional information we can make additional conclusions without having to undo previous incorrect ones

 

[latenlazy]

I also want to point out that this picture (22/12/2024), apparently one of the first publicized pictures of the SAC 6th gen (I really like the name SHADE as proposed by @siegecrossbow but aren’t sure if it’s widely known enough to warrant using) also has the pitot tube quite clearly visible. Incidentally, the jet in that picture also looks pretty dark.

I don’t think we can rule out anything at this point: maybe there’s 2 prototypes flying simultaneously, maybe there’s only the one and the few pictures that we have of the “black jet with no pitot tube” is simply not high-res enough or is AI-processed, maybe one of these is manned and the other a CCA, maybe it’s the same jet with different radomes (extremely unlikely but for the sake of argument).

View attachment 142636

Maybe they just repainted it.