PLA 6th generation fighter thread

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Besides the magic self healing skin other things are not so out of the way for potential technology advancement in coming decade.

A near space aircraft capable of hypersonic speeds with combined cycle engines intended for a fighter aircraft is a bit much.

For a reconnaissance aircraft or perhaps a strike aircraft, such characteristics may be a bit more viable.
 

kriss

Junior Member
Registered Member
Extending from @Blitzo's explanation, China's way of classifiying fighter jet generations has always been one step lower than the rest of the world.

Fighter Jet Models​
International Classification​
Chinese Classification​
F-4, F-111, MiG-21, Su-17, J-7, J-8
3rd-generation fighter​
2nd-generation fighter​
F-15, F-16, Su-27/30, MiG-29, J-10, J-11/16
4th-generation fighter​
3rd-generation fighter​
F-22, F-35, Su-57, J-20, J-35/31
5th-generation fighter​
4th-generation fighter​
NGAD, F/A-XX, FCAS, GCAP
6th-generation fighter​
5th-generation fighter​

Therefore, I suppose that the "6th-generation fighter" referred by Yang Wei in the post is actually "7th-generation fighter" in the broader (international) sense of discussion (which is what being used in this forum).
This so called international classification is so full of bullshit. Russian fighters have one more generation because they classified swept wings like mig-23/27 as a generation of itself. US used to use a 4 generation system and only went with the Russian system only because LM PR department didn't want F35 to sound like a generation behind Russian fighter. They also don't really bother to reclassify anything before F-14 as people don't care about retired relics anyway. If China says 5th gen on any public media it would also be solely for PR reason as people are so used to this new norm of stealth fighter=5th gen.
 

kriss

Junior Member
Registered Member
A near space aircraft capable of hypersonic speeds with combined cycle engines intended for a fighter aircraft is a bit much.

For a reconnaissance aircraft or perhaps a strike aircraft, such characteristics may be a bit more viable.
A space plane like X-37 and divine dragon or whatever China launched last year is already achievable with today's technology. It's also not really far fetch to develop some kind of payload separate system for sub-orbital bombing and at least while in atmosphere also air-to-air combat. Actually I would say such a platform is definitely possible and in my opinion highly likely to be developed in next 10 years.

ps. Didn't Chinese space plane reported already release another object while in orbit last year?
 

escobar

Brigadier
A space plane like X-37 and divine dragon or whatever China launched last year is already achievable with today's technology. It's also not really far fetch to develop some kind of payload separate system for sub-orbital bombing and at least while in atmosphere also air-to-air combat. Actually I would say such a platform is definitely possible and in my opinion highly likely to be developed in next 10 years.

ps. Didn't Chinese space plane reported already release another object while in orbit last year?
Chinese Spaceplane Continues to conduct joint manoeuvres with its companion...
 

ChongqingHotPot92

Junior Member
Registered Member
View attachment 108809

Yang Wei, chief engineer of the J-20, defined the sixth-generation aircraft during the interview.

1. It can be transformed according to the flight height and space
2. It can break through the traditional space to conduct transatmospheric operations, and carry out space or suborbital bombing operations.
3. Based on the intelligent skin, the fuselage can be repaired automatically, with sensors...

In other words, China's future sixth-generation aircraft will be intelligent aerospace fighters capable of deformation and self-repair
With all due respect, it sounds like he must have had too much Baijiu before his interview. He seemed to have revealed the dream fighter he seeks to build before he retires. He wants to be the Elon Musk of fighter jets.
 

Michaelsinodef

Senior Member
Registered Member
With all due respect, it sounds like he must have had too much Baijiu before his interview. He seemed to have revealed the dream fighter he seeks to build before he retires. He wants to be the Elon Musk of fighter jets.
No, what he is saying might really be a Chinese 6th gen (J-20 would be 4th gen).

So basically, the plane that might come out around ~2040 compared to what is currently in development and would come out around ~2030.

In that lense, what he has said could very well be plausible and not that unrealistic, on the other hand, it 100% isn't gonna be the fighter that comes out around ~2030.
 

Andy1974

Senior Member
Registered Member
The self healing skin may not be as fantastical as to heal the skin during flight. It could refer to advances in skin self maintenance, reducing the costs significantly for example.

We recently heard of some advances about skin maintenance on hypersonic missiles, it was to do with applying stealth material like putty to repair skin damage. The next generation of that could be slow self healing in the hanger, no human maintainer needed.
 

Michaelsinodef

Senior Member
Registered Member
The self healing skin may not be as fantastical as to heal the skin during flight. It could refer to advances in skin self maintenance, reducing the costs significantly for example.

We recently heard of some advances about skin maintenance on hypersonic missiles, it was to do with applying stealth material like putty to repair skin damage. The next generation of that could be slow self healing in the hanger, no human maintainer needed.
Sure, but point 2: "It can break through the traditional space to conduct transatmospheric operations, and carry out space or suborbital bombing operations."

Basically pushes away from the next gen fighter to come around ~2030, but more like the generation after it (6th if J-20 is 4th, 7th if J-20 is 5th)
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
View attachment 108809

Yang Wei, chief engineer of the J-20, defined the sixth-generation aircraft during the interview.

1. It can be transformed according to the flight height and space
2. It can break through the traditional space to conduct transatmospheric operations, and carry out space or suborbital bombing operations.
3. Based on the intelligent skin, the fuselage can be repaired automatically, with sensors...

In other words, China's future sixth-generation aircraft will be intelligent aerospace fighters capable of deformation and self-repair
I won't believe a weibo post that claims somebody said something unless I have seen or heard the interview myself or a publication by the person.

Yang wei had published a study paper in 2020 regarding the future fighter jet in his mind. There is nothing about those crazy wild ideas.
1678478219819.png
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
The generation thing was changed as of late last year wasn't it? PLAAF spokesperson referred to J-20 as 5th generation fighter:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
The categorisation of 4th or 5th is not a scientific one but only for convenience in communication. So even within the R&D circles there are different usage. So far Yang Wei use 4th to refer to J-20 and F-22 etc. And I don't think there is an official decision or order on anybody to follow, it will be settled (if ever) like language evolution.

1678478761796.png
 
Top