Almost all stealth fighter jets in the world are single-engine aircraft. Some fighter jets, however, feature twin engines. But China has introduced an unprecedented design with three engines in its new sixth-generation stealth fighter jet. This has sparked curiosity worldwide, as no other country has designed a fighter jet like this. So, what is the secret behind the design of China’s new fighter jet?
On December 27, China flew the tri-engine J-36 over the factory airfield of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. This is the same corporation that developed China’s fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet.
Video footage shows the triangular-winged J-36 lacks a vertical tail. The aircraft, capable of evading radar, features three nozzles for its engines. A similar design can be seen in state-of-the-art stealth combat drones. In 2020, the United States secretly flew its sixth-generation stealth fighter, which also had no tail.
However, the U.S. did not use three engines in its fighter jet. This is because American companies like General Electric and Pratt & Whitney produce highly powerful engines. For instance, Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine powers the F-35 fighter jet with ease.
This engine, in afterburner mode, generates up to 20 tons of thrust. In contrast, no Chinese-made engine can produce such high thrust. Several years ago, China developed the WS-10 engine, a Chinese adaptation of the French-American CFM56 engine. The WS-10 can generate a maximum thrust of 15 tons. However, China now aims to develop a more advanced engine called the WS-20.
When fully loaded, the J-36 could weigh around 50 tons. It is speculated that the J-36 uses three WS-10 engines, allowing it to achieve hypersonic speeds even while carrying heavy explosives. However, there could be additional reasons for using three engines.
Modern fighter jets derive much of their electrical power from engines. Radar sensors, for example, require significant energy. Additionally, advanced weapons such as directed energy weapons and high-energy lasers consume large amounts of power.
By incorporating three engines, the J-36 has challenged conventional design concepts of other sixth-generation fighter jets. Chinese designers likely believed that such a jet requires substantial power, which two WS-10 engines might not suffice to generate. Hence, a third engine was added.
The tri-engine design of China’s new stealth fighter simultaneously highlights the innovation in its engine design and the limitations of China’s fighter jet technology.