At the beginning of 2023, China's aviation industry released a promotional video that detonated the enthusiasm of military fans, and China's sixth-generation fighter is ready to go. This is not an ordinary popular science film, but an eye-catching window into the pinnacle of future warfare**.
In this promotional video, the picture of a sixth-generation fighter with no vertical tail has attracted widespread attention. This picture aroused endless associations among sharp-eyed military fans, as if opening a new chapter in the development of fighters.
The first highlight is this sixth-generation fighter that may have no vertical tail. The vertical tail of traditional fighters plays a key role in regulating the steering of the aircraft, but the existence of vertical tails also limits the flight speed of fighters. And this sixth-generation fighter seems to be designed to break free from the shackles of tradition, pushing speed and maneuverability to a new level. Regarding the departure of the vertical tail, although the promotional video may be out of artistic considerations, it also makes people have more reverie about the design direction of the sixth-generation fighter.
Beyond the traditional flight mindset: the emergence of the variable-cycle engine
Perhaps the most striking thing at the moment is that this fighter may not only get rid of the shackles of the hanging tail, but also may have achieved a revolutionary upgrade in the power system. The emergence of the variable cycle engine has become a new symbol of future air supremacy.
In the past, vector engines provided fighters with an advantage in maneuverability to a certain extent, but with the possible huge size of sixth-generation fighters, it is clear that traditional vector engines will not achieve the desired effect. The variable-cycle engine has become an ideal choice for future fighters with its advantages of high thrust and low fuel consumption. This engine can not only perform well in supersonic speed, subsonic and hypersonic conditions, but also drive the fighter to achieve a highly super-maneuverable state, providing pilots with a more flexible operation experience.
At this point, there is obviously a clear difference between the sixth-generation fighter and the J-20. The J-20 relies on twin vertical tails to adjust the movement of the fuselage, and although it is already flexible enough in terms of maneuverability, future sixth-generation fighters may bring better performance with variable-cycle engines, leaving the enemy in the dust.
Intelligent electronic systems: the key to winning future air battles
With the rapid development of science and technology, future wars will become more digitized and information-based, and electronic warfare will become the key to winning air combat. One of the highlights of the sixth-generation fighter is its extremely complex and intelligent avionics system.
Fifth-generation fighters already have a super information advantage, making them like a miniature AWACS aircraft on the battlefield, capable of performing all kinds of complex electronic tasks. However, the existing fifth-generation fighters are gradually unable to meet the challenges of modern warfare. Future sixth-generation fighters will not only keep up with the pace of modern warfare in terms of electronic systems, but also lead the trend of advanced technology.
In this regard, I personally believe that the avionics system of the sixth-generation fighter may move towards a higher degree of intelligence. This includes not only a more intelligent flight control system, but also a fighter that can autonomously fly in a highly maneuverable state even if it is out of human control for a short period of time. In addition, a more efficient computing system will be a powerful assistant to assist pilots in perceiving the entire battlefield situation. This will provide an unprecedented information advantage for future air combat, allowing pilots to navigate the environment of electronic warfare with ease.
Stealth: The lethality of the sixth-generation fighter**
Stealth has always been one of the goals pursued by modern fighters, and the sixth-generation fighter images flashed in the promotional video seem to have made a major breakthrough in this regard. Although fifth-generation fighters have achieved stealth, there is still the possibility of being detected in specific bands. And the sixth-generation fighter may innovate on this basis and push stealth to new heights.
First of all, the removal of the vertical tail of the fighter further optimizes the aerodynamic layout, which significantly reduces the radar signature of the fighter. This makes it more difficult for sixth-generation fighters to be detected by enemy radars in the air. Secondly, with the continuous progress of mankind in the field of anti-stealth materials, radar technology for special bands is expected to be applied to sixth-generation fighters, further improving stealth performance. This will make the sixth-generation fighter almost a kind of "** existence, making the enemy daunting."
Write at the end
However, while we are full of expectations for sixth-generation fighters, we must also remain rational and objective. The technical challenges mean that the development and experimental work of the sixth-generation fighter will take a considerable time, and the mass production will also be a slow process. Even if the sixth-generation fighter comes out, its formation may not be until after 2040. Therefore, we need to have rational expectations for the sixth-generation fighter, and at the same time, we must also be aware of various technical difficulties and challenges.
Wings of the Future will be written by sixth-generation fighters. It is not only the pride of China's aviation industry, but also the confidence of the Chinese Air Force. Let us look forward to the bright bloom of this wings of the future, so that China's blue sky will be wider and clearer.