Chinese Aerial Vehicle Likely Specialized as Medium-Range Bomber, According to Specialists
Modern Mystery Unveiled: China's JH-36 Stealth Bomber/Fighter Combo?!
Pictures of two elusive Chinese military aircraft, leaked online recently, hint at a prototype stealth medium bomber and a fresh take on lambda-winged technology, according to aerospace experts and military officials.
The larger aircraft, dubbed the "JH-36" by the media due to bort number appearances in images, bears some resemblance to the abandoned US Air Force FB-22 medium stealth bomber concept from the early 2000s.
The new flying-wing delta plane, strikingly different from China's known H-20 bomber, is rumored to be the "medium bomber" mentioned in the most recent edition of the Pentagon's annual report on China's military power, released in mid-December. This report has consistently mentioned a "JH-XX" medium bomber under development since 2019.
"The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is developing new medium- and long-range bombers to strike regional and global targets," the annual report stated, adding that these aircraft will likely have low observable characteristics.
Interestingly, the PLAAF is developing a flying-wing large bomber called the H-20, similar in design to the American B-2 stealth bomber. However, the aircraft released seems to deviate notably from expectations for the H-20.
"The Air Force has been keeping tabs on China's military modernization efforts," a service official shared on background. "This development lines up with our understanding of China's strategic objectives and long-term force planning. Their new weapons systems add complexity to the PLA, which needs a skilled workforce to maximize their capabilities."
The "JH-36" depictured in the videos and photographs, which have remained uncommented upon by the Chinese government, appears to be a large aircraft, around 30% larger than the 70-foot J-20S "Mighty Dragon" appearing to follow in the images. This tailless aircraft flaunts five flaperons on each side of its winging, showing independent movement in some images. A tailless aircraft inherently offers less radar target surface, making it stealthier and lighter, enabling increased range.
The flaperon system may signal that "they haven't completely mastered thrust vectoring and control," an industry expert claimed, speculating that the designers might lack experience in flight control.
The aircraft suggests Chengdu production, given that it's chased by a J-20S from Chengdu. The aircraft showcases three inlets: one dorsal inlet at mid-fuselage, and two ventral inlets near the nose, in a parallelogram shape reminiscent of the F-22. There are also three apparent above-wing exhausts, which are similar to those on the B-2 and Northrop Grumman's YF-23 competitor in the Advanced Tactical Fighter program. However, the dorsal inlet differs notably from the other two, hinting at a stealthy design, akin to Northrop Grumman's unsuccessful bid for the US Have Blue stealth demonstrator program.
Three engines could make the aircraft heavy or limit its range and payload, but experts propose that the third engine might be utilized for intense electronic warfare applications or to mix bypass air with the exhaust air to cool it and reduce heat signature.
According to the Pentagon report, China's indigenous engine industry is improbable to match the technology in the US Adaptive Engine Technology Program (AETP), which produced prototype engines utilizing bypass technology that could be optimized for specific thrust or loitering, with extra stealthiness as a byproduct. An intended competition between those engines, one built by GE Aerospace and one by Pratt & Whitney, aimed to upgrade the F-35, but it was abandoned because the engines weren't compatible with all F-35 variants.
One aerospace technologist suggested that the third engine is either "a brilliant solution to have both power and stealthiness" or "a stupid, heavy design with redundant propulsion mass."
The technologist hypothesized that the ventral engine inlets may be employed during takeoff and landing, while the ventrally-fed engine could be for cruise, thereby potentially extending the aircraft's range.
Upper views of the JH-36 were less clear, offering limited insight into the cockpit configuration. The images suggest the possibility of an unmanned aircraft with a painted-on canopy, or perhaps a two-seat cockpit with tandem or side-by-side seating. The bays weren't opened during filming, but the aircraft seems to have large apertures adjacent to the nose, reminiscent of the Distributed Aperture System (DAS) on the F-35, but significantly larger.
One industry expert compared the JH-36 to the Lockheed FB-22, noting their similar sizes and that some forward-fuselage features reflect the heritage of the J-20. He acknowledged that the FB-22, an adaptation of the stealth fighter designed to carry more weapons and fuel, was offered as a stopgap when the US Next-Generation Bomber was canceled, potentially filling a gap in China's penetrating bomber capacity.
"The FB-22 would have been an easy stopgap, reusing the fuselage and systems of the F-22 with an extension and bigger wings to hold more weapons and fuel," he claimed. However, the Air Force abandoned the concept when it opted to pursue a new long-range bomber program.
The aircraft's unveiling also occurred on December 26, Mao Zedong's birthday. Intriguingly, this is the same date that the J-20 was revealed online in 2010. The timing of these events, combined with US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' visit to China at the time, adds some intrigue to China's military ambitions.
- The "JH-36" bears some resemblance to the abandoned US Air Force FB-22 medium stealth bomber concept from the early 2000s.
- The new flying-wing delta plane, strikingly different from China's known H-20 bomber, is rumored to be the "medium bomber" mentioned in the most recent edition of the Pentagon's annual report on China's military power.
- The Air Force has been keeping tabs on China's military modernization efforts, including the development of new weapons systems like the "JH-36."
- Experts propose that the third engine on the "JH-36" might be utilized for intense electronic warfare applications or to mix bypass air with the exhaust air to cool it and reduce heat signature.
- One aerospace technologist suggested that the third engine is either "a brilliant solution to have both power and stealthiness" or "a stupid, heavy design with redundant propulsion mass."
- The ventral engine inlets on the "JH-36" may be employed during takeoff and landing, while the ventrally-fed engine could be for cruise, potentially extending the aircraft's range.
- The JH-36's unveiling occurred on December 26, Mao Zedong's birthday, a date that also marked the online revelation of the J-20 in 2010, which adds intrigue to China's military ambitions.
- The aerospace industry is following the developments in China's space and aviation sectors, particularly considering the rising financial investments in the aerospace industry from both military and private sectors.
