China’s New 6th Gen Fighter Doesn’t Make Any Sense... Here’s Why

Summary

The video analyzes China’s large, tailless three-engine aircraft, commonly called the J-36, and argues that its unusual third engine may be central to its intended role rather than a temporary workaround.

Aircraft and development

• The aircraft was first publicly spotted over Chengdu on December 26, 2024, flying alongside a J-20. China has not officially confirmed its name or published performance figures; “J-36” is an unofficial label based on the aircraft’s visible number.
• Analyst Bill Sweetman estimated it to be about 23 meters long, with a 19-meter wingspan and roughly 200 square meters of wing area. The video also cites estimates of a main weapons bay around 7.6 meters long and a maximum takeoff weight near 55 tons. These are outside estimates, not confirmed specifications.
• Its two crew members sit side by side, a layout that could support sharing tasks during long missions.
• Successive prototypes showed changes to the intakes, landing gear, and exhaust nozzles. A later prototype lacked the early-test pitot probe, and footage showed the aircraft making a sharp climbing turn. Despite those changes, each observed version retained three engines.

Why three engines?

The video considers—and challenges—the idea that China added a third engine only because it lacked a sufficiently powerful two-engine option. Sweetman’s argument is that designing and testing a very large aircraft around a supposedly temporary configuration would be an unlikely shortcut. If the aircraft uses three engines in the estimated 10-ton-thrust class, their combined thrust may also be difficult for any two-engine arrangement to match.

The video proposes several possible reasons for the layout:

1. Sustained high-speed flight: The aircraft may be designed for supercruise—flying faster than sound without continuous afterburner use. Its broad, swept wing and estimated engine power are presented as consistent with high-speed, long-range flight. One possibility is that the two outer engines support efficient subsonic cruising while the center engine helps at supersonic speeds.
2. Control without a tail: The tailless design must manage stability and steering without conventional vertical fins. Moving exhaust nozzles could provide thrust vectoring for pitch and roll. Three engines may offer more control options and potentially better balance if one engine fails.
3. Electrical power: Radar, electronic-warfare systems, communications, and cooling all require power. A third engine could provide another generator for a large sensor and communications suite. The video also notes a Chinese defense-exhibition display linking a laser system to an image of the aircraft, but stresses that this does not prove the J-36 will carry a laser.
4. Range and redundancy: Extra engines may offer another way to return safely during long missions over the Pacific, though they add fuel consumption, maintenance, weight, and cost.

Possible operational role

The video suggests the J-36 may be less of a conventional dogfighter and more of a long-range stealth strike and command aircraft. Its size, two-person crew, possible large radar, and weapons capacity could support coordinating drones or other aircraft while carrying long-range weapons. In a naval analogy cited in the video, the J-20 is likened to a destroyer and the J-36 to a larger cruiser directing other forces.

These are interpretations based on visible features and analyst commentary; the aircraft’s actual mission and capabilities remain unconfirmed.

Comparison with the U.S. F-47

The video contrasts the J-36 with the U.S. Air Force’s planned F-47:

• The J-36 has been seen in flight since 2024, while the F-47’s first flight is described as planned for 2028. The video cautions that the apparent timing gap may be misleading because the United States conducted earlier classified experimental aircraft testing.
• The aircraft appear to reflect different priorities: the J-36 is a large, tailless design emphasizing range, payload, and speed, while the F-47 appears more like a conventional fighter with canards and a greater emphasis on maneuverability.
• The U.S. Air Force has stated an F-47 combat radius above 1,000 nautical miles and a top speed above Mach 2. The J-36 has no official figures; any comparisons of its range or speed are estimates.
• The F-47 is expected to use an adaptive-cycle engine, but the video says early aircraft will use interim engines until the new propulsion system is ready.
• The video argues that the J-36 may not have a single U.S. equivalent because its apparent mission overlaps with both the F-47 and the B-21 bomber.

China is also developing a smaller tailless aircraft often called the JXDS or J-50, while the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program is discussed as another part of the broader competition. The video concludes that the key uncertainty is whether China can turn prototypes into an operational fleet, and how that timeline compares with the F-47 and its new engines.

Reviews, guides, or tutorials

None. This is a technical and strategic analysis, not a product review or how-to guide.

Main speakers and sources

• Narrator: Presents the aircraft’s development, possible design logic, and comparison with U.S. programs.
• Bill Sweetman: Aviation analyst whose estimates and technical interpretations are cited.
• Andreas Rupprecht: Analyst of Chinese military aircraft, relaying comments attributed to J-20 chief designer Yang Wei.
• Other cited sources: The War Zone (TWZ), South China Morning Post, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Chinese aviation and defense-industry displays.