Chengdu next gen combat aircraft (?J-36) thread

[Iron Man]

You're starting to make the J-36 sound appealing as a strike platform, perhaps especially against high value and well defended maritime targets.

It absolutely could and probably will be used as a strike platform in addition to its long range anti-air, AEW&C, and CCA controller roles. Load a couple hypersonic missiles or wing-folding AKF-98As in there and the J-36 would be the perfect platform to launch those. I've actually been playing around with CGI wing-folded designs for the AKF-98A LOL

 

[dasCKD]

I think it would be utterly stupid for the USAF to NOT use the B-21 in an anti-air capacity. A rotating canister launcher holding 6-8 rounds of the new AIM-174 ultra-long range AAM is easily imaginable for the B-21 as a potential payload.

Rotating canister sounds like a lot of added weight and complexity. They can just have a simple drop-down mechanism or a swing-out mechanism like a lot of current combat aircraft already use (I don't know the proper names for the mechanism).

 

[Iron Man]

Rotating canister sounds like a lot of added weight and complexity. They can just have a simple drop-down mechanism or a swing-out mechanism like a lot of current combat aircraft already use (I don't know the proper names for the mechanism).

Rotary launchers are already commonly used:

 

[Stealthflanker]

Rotary launcher for bomber is common. Fighter tho, can quickly run into problem of the required depth of the bay, needed for it.

 

[Maikeru]

What advantages does a rotary launcher confer over more traditional loading arrangements?

 

[AndrewJ]

Rotary launcher for bomber is common. Fighter tho, can quickly run into problem of the required depth of the bay, needed for it.

No longer a problem here. With the intake above, J-36's IWB is deep enough.

 

[Stealthflanker]

No longer a problem here. With the intake above, J-36's IWB is deep enough

deep enough is how deep tho ?. You should also take account of the launcher's own size and say, the launch condition

 

[siegecrossbow]

No longer a problem here. With the intake above, J-36's IWB is deep enough.

Every bit of space is precious in a plane. Is the trade off worth more than additional fuel for instance?

 

[Deino]

No longer a problem here. With the intake above, J-36's IWB is deep enough.

I would be very much careful with such statements since otherwise some think it is already a conclusion that it has a rotary launcher. And IMO we have seen so far nothing that supports this ... quite to the contrary, the huge doors are IMO more a hint for a regular bay.

 

[Nion0707]

Is there any picture that suggests h 6 bomber has rotary launcher?