Shenyang J-50

Last updated
J-50
General information
National originChina
Manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
Status Flight testing
Number built1 confirmed
History
First flightUnknown, first publicly observed on 26 December 2024

The Shenyang J-50 [1] [2] or J-XD [3] is a temporary designation given by military analysts and defense media to a twinjet tailless lambda wing aircraft under development by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). The aircraft was observed in flight testing in Shenyang, Liaoning, China in December 2024, which was tentatively named Shenyang J-XD or Shenyang J-50 by analysts, given the limited available information. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

In 2018, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) reportedly developed prototypes for the next-generation aircraft. [4] Intelligence and rumors indicated the Chinese designs would use tailless flying wing or flying arrowhead configuration that can provide greater broadband stealth characteristics compared to the previous generation of fighters, new propulsion technologies, improved sensors allowing the aircraft to operate alongside unmanned teaming aircraft or unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), etc. [5]

In September 2022, United States Air Force (USAF) General Mark D. Kelly, head of the Air Combat Command (ACC) suggested China was on track with its six-generation fighter program, and he believed the Chinese design uses a 'system of systems' approach like the United States, which allows for "exponential" reductions in stealth signature and improvements in processing power and sensing. [4] [6]

On 26 December 2024, a new Shenyang prototype aircraft, believed to be part of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter program, was spotted near Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's facilities. The reveal coincided with the spotting of the Chengdu J-36 from its sister company, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. [7] Unconfirmed reports suggested the Shenyang fighter made its maiden flight on 20 December 2024. The Shenyang aircraft prototype seemed to be smaller than the Chengdu one. It was trailed by a Shenyang J-16 strike fighter as the chase plane. [8] [9] [10]

Design

The Shenyang prototype fighter features a cranked arrow configuration with sharply swept lambda wings with droopped wing tips, two ventral intakes with diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI), possibly folding empennage, and twin-engine bays. [3] [8] [11] The medium size of the aircraft was speculated to be more suitable for operations on aircraft carriers. [12] The cockpit canopy was not visible from any available footage of the aircraft, leading to diverging theories on it being a crewed, [10] uncrewed, [7] or optionally crewed aircraft. [8]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Honrada, Gabriel (2 January 2025). "China's J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority". Asia Times. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  2. 1 2 Roblin, Sébastien (7 January 2025). "Two New Chinese Sixth-Gen Fighter Jets Have Emerged in a Direct Challenge to U.S. Air Superiority". Popular Mechanics.
  3. 1 2 3 Kadidal, Akhil (30 December 2024). "Update: Two Chinese stealth aircraft programmes emerge unexpectedly". Janes.
  4. 1 2 Newdick, Thomas (28 September 2022). "China Is Working On Its Own Sixth-Generation Fighter Program: Official". The War Zone. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Joe, Rick (11 June 2024). "China's 6th Generation and Upcoming Combat Aircraft: 2024 Update". The Diplomat . Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ↑ Arthur, Gordon (24 June 2024). "When will China have a sixth-gen fighter jet?". Defense News .
  7. 1 2 Sweetman, Bill (27 December 2024). "Boxing clever? China's next-gen tailless combat aircraft analysed". Royal Aeronautical Society . Archived from the original on 29 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Newdick, Thomas (2024-12-26). "Yes, China Just Flew Another Tailless Next-Generation Stealth Combat Aircraft". The War Zone. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
  9. ↑ "China Revealed Two New Stealth Fighter Designs In One Momentous Day". Forbes.
  10. 1 2 D'Urso, Stefano (27 December 2024). "Second New Chinese Stealth Jet Emerges in the Same Day". The Aviationist.
  11. ↑ "New Chinese Advanced Combat Aircraft Emerge In Flight". Aviation Week. 26 December 2024. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  12. ↑ Wangin, Amber; Zhuang, Sylvie (7 January 2025). "Why do China's sixth-gen stealth fighters have different designs?". South China Morning Post.
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