Experts analyze the aircraft’s design, suggesting improved stealth, potential for carrier operations, and a role in a future „hi-lo” mix for China’s air forces.
Recent images of what appears to be China’s J-50 stealth fighter have revealed new details about the aircraft’s design and hints towards its likely mission, experts have told Breaking Defense.
The first clear photos of the aircraft, which has been referred to as J-50, J-XD, or J-XDS, surfaced online in late September. Developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), the images show all-moving wingtips acting as control surfaces, thrust vectoring exhaust nozzles, twin Diverterless Supersonic Intakes, heavy-duty twin-wheeled nose landing gear, and a low-profile canopy for a single pilot.
Stealth and Performance
Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that the design is optimized for improved wideband stealth, even compared to fifth-generation fighters, through the removal of canted vertical stabilizers. The use of 2D thrust vectoring engine exhaust nozzles would enhance pitch control to compensate for the lack of vertical tails.
„The design is very low drag, and with two even current WS-10C class engines would likely have significant supercruise capabilities at high altitudes, allowing enhanced range and missile reach,” Bronk added.
„Hi-Lo” Mix and Replacement for Older Aircraft
Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese air power, suggested that the J-50 is likely the „low” component of a future next-generation „hi-lo” mix for China’s air forces. The aircraft appears to be slightly smaller than the Shenyang J-16 multirole fighter.
The J-50 could replace older aircraft in China’s inventory, such as the Xi’an fighter-bomber, early Chengdu J-10 multirole fighters, and the last of the Shenyang J-11 fighters. The „high” component would be filled by a larger design tentatively designated as the Chengdu J-36.
Potential for Carrier Operations
Bronk pointed out that the twin-wheeled nose landing gear could suggest that China sees the design as a potential carrierborne aircraft. However, the tailless design could lead to complications during carrier operations due to limitations in high angle of attack performance and controllability in the yaw axis.
He added that the J-50 is likely intended for high-end air superiority missions, albeit with a shorter range and smaller internal payload than the J-36.
Internal Volume and Unmanned Assets
Rupprecht expects that the J-50 will still have significant internal volume for fuel and weapons, with earlier photos showing two separate weapons bays on the bottom fuselage.
He also noted that much depends on the development of China’s unmanned assets, as some of the loyal wingmen unmanned aircraft could also replace the aforementioned fighters to some degree.
China has showcased five different types of loyal wingmen at recent military parades and is developing the H-20 bomber. Additionally, a new and larger stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) known as the GJ-X has been spotted on satellite imagery of an airbase in western China.
