CAC‘s 6th generation fighter prototype/demonstrator

Sepheronx wrote:For anything beyond bomber, it won't be able to turn or turn fast enough. Engine nozzle design doesn't look like 3d tvc.

So as a strike fighter or whatever they say, that ain't it.

Well the concern about 3D TVC is legit but it is not as simple as that. It is not like 3D TVC is always crucial in for maneuverability.

For example, why the newest Su-57 AL-51F2 does not use 3D TVC but used 2D and is canted at 16 degree ? Does that mean AL-51F2 is worse or less advanced than the 3D AL-41F1S and AL-51F1 ? Does that mean Su-57 with the 2D AL-51F2 will be a sitting duck and not as agile as the older one with 3D engine ?
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Seems like the design of the mysterious Chinese fighter may use the same concept as the so-called 6th gen fighter, using many advanced aerodynamic traits such as the LEVCON that is successfully used on Su-57 and S-70 that even the F-22 and F-35 failed to materialized it fully, which allowed the, for example, Su-57, to be very maneuverable even without using the TVC.

In the case of what people called as "6th gen" and may be these mysterious Chinese stuff, the aerodynamic traits may allow them to retain great maneuverability at near sonic and supersonic speed and will not become a sluggish bullet like SR-71. They cannot be supermaneuverable and low speed like Su-57, but a portion of the 6th gen will be function as unmanned fighter controlled by mothership, hence the evasive maneuverability that the mothership need might not be at the same importance for the UAV.

Another trait of the so-called 6th gen is that, in the case they are being umanned, their maneuverability will be focus on the drastic moves with huge G-load that none of human pilot can sustain. For example in fight performance, no human pilot can perform two consecutive supermaneuver stunt without a short break to reduce the G-load. But the unmanned can.

To be fair, there is still to few information about the mysterious Chengdu aircraft. But from the image we can see that it is big in size, probably intended for long range and hosting big missiles inside the body.

Looking back to the history, Russian MFI such as MiG 1.44 made some emphasis of high speed and advanced datalink system. Chinese J-20 also emphasized the need for high speed and the ability to launch missiles in supersonic speed optimized for long range weapons. Which mean speed more than multirole.

In this mysterious aircraft, probably the speed and range are also emphasized. Three engines, low wing angle may imply speed. Body and weapon chamber is also much bigger than J-20, which is already a big fighter. The three engines with the additional middle one may allow optimization of fuel consumption to increase range.

All these range and speed are meant to intercept enemy AWACS and fueling aircrafts, rather than the common multirole design.

For example, why the newest Su-57 AL-51F2 does not use 3D TVC but used 2D and is canted at 16 degree ? Does that mean AL-51F2 is worse or less advanced than the 3D AL-41F1S and AL-51F1 ? Does that mean Su-57 with the 2D AL-51F2 will be a sitting duck and not as agile as the older one with 3D engine ?

Looking back to the history, Russian MFI such as MiG 1.44 made some emphasis of high speed and advanced datalink system. Chinese J-20 also emphasized the need for high speed and the ability to launch missiles in supersonic speed optimized for long range weapons. Which mean speed more than multirole.

A ramjet or scramjet engine, a hypersonic aircraft? What kind of dream are you in?

How the hell can this thing fly "very very fast""very very high"?
China doesn't have ALIEN technology. They cannot even find a proper engine.

So as a strike fighter or whatever they say, that ain't it.

Hats off to China but I'd say it's not a 6th generation design. If that is the criteria then the B-2 was the first back in 1989 already!

Three engines, maybe China still has trouble getting enough thrust. I wonder if they've come close to the capabilities of the AL51F1? Or even the AL41F1.
The stories about Scramjet hypersonics are just tall tales.

Look at the design. Can you see canards? Levicons?

Means they don't have trust in reliability, eats far more fuel and current engines not enough to power subsystems.

still not sold on the 6th gen idea.

This is a manned machine with high probability.