What is China's J-36 stealth warplane being compared to US' B-2 bomber

India Today

20 hours ago

The US-made B-2 Spirit bombers, commonly known as the B-2 stealth bombers, which have been around for over 35 years, still evoke intrigue among aviation enthusiasts and the public. The capability of the B-2 stealth bombers to go on a 37-hour mission from Missouri, US, to Iran – refuelling multiple times midair – has got interest in the warplane soaring. It has emerged that China, too, is working on a similar stealth warplane -- the J-36.advertisementFor decades, only the US possessed a bomber so futuristic it seemed like it was straight out of science fiction. But last Christmas, a silhouette emerged unexpectedly over China's Chengdu city. A super-futuristic aircraft, much like the B-2 Spirit was seen hovering over the city. Six months on, the world is still asking: what exactly are these machines?Defence analysts, aviation experts, and news outlets worldwide have been scrambling to understand this mysterious aircraft.
Multiple news outlets, such as UK-based open-source defence intelligence website Janes, and Italy-based military aviation and defence technology platform The Aviationist, have referred to the mysterious Chinese stealth jet as the "J-36".Several photos of the aircraft have gone viral.J-36 STEALTH BOMBER BEING MADE BY CHENGDU AIRCRAFT CORP?US-based The Diplomat magazine said the images and videos making the rounds on social media were captured by individuals on the ground in Chengdu, where the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation factory is located.advertisementMeanwhile, earlier this month, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) claimed that the next-generation aircraft has been built by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.It is the same company that is behind some of China's latest fighter jets, including the J-10 and JF-17. The export variant of the J-10, the J-10C, was fielded by Pakistan against India in the Operation Sindoor mini-war.One photo of the J-36 in particular, a front-facing image, drew widespread attention and analysis from multiple media outlets.The photo seems to confirm a twin-seat, side-by-side cockpit layout, with two distinct heads-up displays visible — one for each pilot. This canopy design, if authentic, aligns with other large strike aircraft like the B-2 Spirit or Russia's Su-34 Fullback, The Aviationist observed.However, in a new photo analysed by The Aviationist, the J-36 appears in a full-frontal view on the flightline, revealing additional design cues. The image, though grainy and possibly taken from a monitor screen, is widely considered to be genuine. Still, leading Chinese military aviation analyst Andreas Rupprecht urged caution, warning that "too many fake images of the J-36 were posted", and this one may be "too good to be true".Yet, that hasn't deterred analysts from drafting full-fledged profiles of the warplane's presumed technology and design.advertisementWhile its official name remains undisclosed, the moniker "J-36" stems from the serial number "36011" seen on the prototype, following the same pattern as the J-20's initial "2001", SCMP noted.The aircraft is nicknamed the "Gingko leaf" for its distinctive silhouette. Gingko, notably, is a disease-resistant tree native to China, and has fan-shaped leaves.BUZZ ABOUT CHINA'S J-36, ITS UNORTHODOX DESIGNThe aircraft is reportedly believed to use a delta-wing platform with a tailless design.According to the SCMP, the aircraft features specialised trailing edge control surfaces and split flaps near the wingtips to compensate for the lack of a tail, which typically helps with manoeuvrability. These design choices allow the tailless aircraft to maintain stability and control during flight.The SCMP also reported that the aircraft's propulsion system is unusual, consisting of three engines, believed to be modified versions of the WS-10C Taihang engines used in China's J-20 stealth fighters. It even said that future upgrades might include more advanced thrust-vectoring WS-10 engines or the WS-15 Emei, which offer better manoeuvrability and power.The aircraft's air intake layout is also distinct, featuring three differently shaped inlets: one dorsal-mounted diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) on top of the fuselage, and two ventral Caret inlets with adjustable ramps beneath. This configuration is reportedly designed to enhance high-speed airflow and engine efficiency.advertisementThe petal-style exhaust nozzles, according to the SCMP, resemble those used in the American YF-23 prototypes from the 1980s. These are likely intended to regulate engine heat and reduce infrared visibility, helping the aircraft stay hidden from heat-seeking systems.Speculation about the jet's mission role has only intensified.SIZE OF CHINA'S J-36 HINTS AT ITS ROLE AS A BOMBERThe aircraft was initially seen flying alongside a J-20S chase plane, giving observers a sense of scale. Based on this, the SCMP estimates the J-36 is as long as the 21-metre J-20 but with nearly double the wingspan, suggesting a significantly larger airframe. This expanded size hints at greater internal capacity for fuel, sensors, and weaponry, possibly pointing to a bomber role.A widely circulated theory suggests that the J-36 houses one central weapons bay capable of carrying up to six to eight long-range missiles, flanked by two smaller side bays that could each hold two short-range missiles.These features, if confirmed, would give the jet a substantially larger payload than the J-20, according to the SCMP.Whether the aircraft is a regional bomber laying groundwork for the larger Xi'an H-20 subsonic stealth bomber, or a multi-role platform with drone-controlling capabilities, remains to be seen. But what is for sure is that the J-36 is a significant leap in Chinese air warfare ambition.- EndsTrending Reel