China revealed two cutting-edge stealth aircraft on Mao’s 131st birth anniversary on 26 December 2024.
Coinciding with Mao Zedong’s 131st birth anniversary on 26 December 2024, China revealed two cutting-edge stealth aircraft, drawing global attention for their potential to revolutionize next-generation air combat. These aircraft, seemingly sixth-generation designs, showcase China’s swift progress in aerospace technology and present notable challenges for the US and its allies in sustaining its air superiority. The US-based “The War Zone” website while reporting on the test flight said that “It appears that another new Chinese combat aircraft has already entered flight testing, and it is also an advanced, stealthy, tailless design.” On 27 December, China launched the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, Sichuan in Shanghai with a full-load displacement exceeding 40,000 tons and electromagnetic catapult system.
The feverish acquisition of the KJ-500—the PRC’s most advanced airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighters, its third aircraft carrier that is expected to enter operational service in 2025, over a dozen nuclear-powered submarines geared towards the “intelligentized warfare” is part and parcel of “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” “China Dream,” and “Chinese modernization” by 2049, the time when the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would be transformed into a world-class force fully equipped to use AI, quantum computing, big data and advanced technologies.
The same is demonstrated by China’s concentrated display of 36 types of weapons and equipment, including the J-20, J-16, Y-20, YU-20, KJ-500, H-6K, and Hong-9B. Notably, the J-35A, a medium-sized stealth multirole fighter, made its debut at the China Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024, alongside new equipment such as the Hong-19 surface-to-air missile system and a new reconnaissance-strike integrated unmanned aerial vehicle, as reported by the Sina.com. The sixth generation fighter named “White emperor” (白帝) was also introduced as a mock-up at Airshow.
Since China views the United States as “deploying a whole-of-government effort” to contain China’s rise, Xi Jinping has been doubling down on modernisation of the PLA. Beijing, according to US’ Department of Defence (DoD) 2024 “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China” report presented to the Congress on 18 December 2024 “spends 40% to 90% more than it announces in its public defence budget, which equates to approximately $330 billion-$450 billion in total defence spending for 2024.”
The showcasing of the twin sixth generation aircraft and the amphibious assault ship is the so called “pacing challenge” presented by the People’s Republic’s increasingly capable military to the US, as referred by the DoD’s report. The report reiterates the reference from the 2022 report that “China is the only competitor to the United States with the intent and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order.” The 2024 report says that by 2030, the PLA expects to field a range of “algorithmic warfare” and “network-centric warfare” capabilities operating at different levels of human-machine integration.
The twin aircraft, one from Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and the other from Shenyang Aircraft Corporation feature a diamond-shaped, modified delta wing design, enhancing stealth capabilities and aerodynamic efficiency for potential long-range missions. Especially Chengdu aircraft’s tailless configuration reduces radar detectability, marking a significant advancement in China’s military technology. The development positions China ahead in the global race to produce sixth-generation fighter jets, challenging the United States’ air superiority and potentially impacting regional dynamics, including with neighbouring countries like India.
The Chinese media has been abuzz with the new stealth aircraft named as J-36 of the “White emperor.” According to the news portal China.com, “based on the paint scheme of the aircraft, it appears to be a prototype rather than a demonstrator with a large weapon bay”. It lists 14 features of the aircraft, some of these include: large optical windows on the nose suggesting that “China may have integrated EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System) capabilities”; triple engine configuration; and tailless delta wing configuration, suggesting the aircraft could reach speed of Mach 3-4. Netease in a report noted that December 26, “should be the most desperate day in the history of the US military… it meant that the United States lost air supremacy for the first time after 80 years of dominating the sky.”
The tri-engine, according to the report is meant to compensate insufficient thrust and could possibly be used for near space operations. The combined thrust of three WS-15 engines, totalling 55.5 tons, as per the report, would grant the J-36 exceptional manoeuvrability. If this is true, the “fighter jet has the capability to shoot down low-orbit satellites, posing a significant threat to the US Starlink satellite system and Western reconnaissance satellites in wartime” according to Chen Guangwen, a military analyst. As regards the specifications, analysis by an anonymous author with the Observer Net has a detailed discussion, and seems to suggest, China has surpassed the US but not taken a “disruptive lead.”
The above report on the test flight by the Observer Net (Guanchawang) says that “Western military bloggers, in particular, find it difficult to digest that this could be the world’s first ‘sixth-generation fighter’.” However, based on its size, configuration, and the fact that it is escorted by the J-20, it seems evident that this is indeed a “sixth-generation fighter,” marking China’s leadership in global aviation engineering. According to the analyst, insufficient rear stealth is not a significant issue. “Even if the opponent detects an infrared signature, they won’t be able to catch up, so the threat is negligible. The J-36 is certainly not an F-35.” Chen Guangwen, on the other hand, posits that “the sixth-generation fighter adopts near-wingtip split flaps in a tailless configuration—an advanced technology not even found on the US B-21 stealth bomber.”
Chen further says that “overarching technological focus between China and the US is unlikely to differ fundamentally” however, “when your competitor’s technology is catching up or surpassing yours, attempting to force a leap can backfire.” The article points out that the sixth-generation stealth fighter has been designated as “36011”, indicating that it is the 11th aircraft in the J-36 or JH-36 (Jianhong-36) series. Thus, the flight on the 26th may not have been its actual “maiden flight.” If the speculation about the J-36 or JH-36 having already entered service is accurate, “it could put China more than a decade ahead of the United States” says Chen. The US NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program, according to him, is still in the design phase and, if successfully completed and operationalized, is expected to enter service no earlier than 2035. It may be remembered that the J-20 completed its maiden flight in January 2011; 13 years later, there are now more than 1,300 of 1,900 total fighters reportedly in service with the PLA Air Force, according to the DoD 2024 report.
In Xi Jinping’s new era, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has witnessed the most turbulent times caused by the “serious violation of discipline.” According to a report by Caixin Global, in the past dozen years, “80 generals, a total of 13 full generals, 18 lieutenant generals and more than 50 major generals have fallen from grace in graft probes…” Some of the high-ranking military officials that have been removed recently include two defence ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, Commander of the PLA Rocket Force Li Yuchao, and member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and head of its political work department, Miao Hua, demonstrating that “absolute loyalty” even from Xi’s own loyalists remains a perennial issue.
Regardless of a storm in the higher echelons of the PLA, its “core operational concept,” Multi-Domain Precision Warfare (MDPW) has made big strides in the fourth phase of PLA’s modernisation under Xi Jinping. In his New Year’s Eve speech, the Chinese president appeared upbeat as he announced China’s GDP expecting to exceed 130 trillion yuan (US$18.2 trillion), annual production of new energy vehicles, surpassing 10 million for the first time, and China making significant achievements in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and quantum communication in 2024. To the people across the Taiwan Strait, Xi said, “our blood ties cannot be severed, nor can anyone hinder the historical trend of national reunification.”
* B.R. Deepak is Professor, Center of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.