Recently, the official websites of the US military website "Warzone" and the UK's "Flight International" magazine published articles introducing a new type of carrier based fighter jet that China has just test flown. According to foreign media reports, this new carrier based fighter jet, called J-XY or J-35, which test flew on the 29th, is a single engine medium fifth generation fighter jet with strong stealth performance.

Foreign media expressed unprecedented amazement at China's exposure of the twin seater J-20 fighter jet on the 28th and its test flight of a new generation stealth fighter jet on the 29th. An aviation blogger commented, 'I don't even know what to say. In just two days, they not only showcased the world's first two seater fifth generation aircraft, but also test flew their J-35 carrier based fighter the next day.'.

The article states that this all body bright green aircraft adopts the same dual tilted tail structure as the F-35 fighter jet, but it uses two engines and a single seat cockpit configuration. Its front wheels have added catapult launch rods, and the main wings of the aircraft can clearly see traces of wing folding devices, which is completely similar to the F-35C carrier based fighter jet.

According to foreign media reports, the J-35 fighter jet is equipped with a sensor system on the underside of its nose, which Western analysts believe may be similar to the F-35's electro-optical aiming system (EOTS). In addition, the J-35 fighter jet comes with a folding boarding ladder, which is installed in a groove under the cockpit of the aircraft, similar to the F-35C.

Western analysts point out that the nose and fuselage of the J-35 fighter jet have been significantly enlarged compared to the FC-31, and its nose size is even close to that of the F-22. This will enable the J-35 fighter jet to be equipped with larger phased array radar and electronic systems, and its huge fuselage will carry more fuel, which means its range may exceed that of the F-35 fighter jet.

The J-35 fighter jet may have fully utilized China's successful experience in the fields of aviation composite materials and laser additive processing. The main load-bearing structure of the aircraft body, such as the titanium alloy of the main frame, is formed by laser additive one-time molding, and the aluminum alloy reinforced frame wing beam integral part is also an integrated structure formed by laser additive one-time molding.

Western analysts estimate that the titanium alloy material ratio of this fighter jet is comparable to that of the F-35 fighter jet, and the use of composite materials may be slightly higher than that of the F-35 fighter jet.

According to the report, from the perspective of the onion green aircraft skin, the external skin of the aircraft is made of bismaleimide and epoxy composite materials. Through the adhesion layer processed by these materials, the aircraft is more convenient to apply new stealth coatings or cover polymer thin film metamaterials in subsequent production. It can be said that from these simple details, it can be seen that the stealth material technology of the J-35 carrier based fighter jet is no less advanced than that of the United States at the same time.

Western analysts believe that the J-35 carrier based fighter, as the world's second fifth generation aircraft carrier based fighter, has important strategic significance. As a supporting project for Chinese aircraft carriers, it will form the carrier based aircraft echelon of China's new generation of large aircraft carriers along with carrier based aircraft such as the KJ-600, Z-20, and J-15B. At the same time, the appearance of the J-35 carrier based fighter officially means that the People's Liberation Army will be equipped with two or more fifth generation aircraft, which further increases China's air superiority.

According to analysis, China's rapid succession of test flights of fifth generation fighter jets actually means that the overall strength of China's aviation industry has reached a new stage. Currently, only China, the United States, and Russia have developed or equipped two types of fifth generation fighter jets in the world.

Although Russia launched the Su-75 (S-75 "General") fighter jet at the beginning of the year, its overall technical level still lags far behind the J-35 fighter jet, and it should not be seen as a complete fifth generation aircraft overall. The overall technical level of the J-35 is basically on the same level as that of the F35.

Source: Guoke Huanyu