Decoding China’s Enigmatic Fighter Jet: A Triple-Power Revolution in the Sky

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With the unveiling of its sixth-generation stealth fighter, China has sparked significant debate worldwide for several reasons, including its unique three-engine design, as opposed to the single or dual engines found in all other stealth fighters globally.

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The three-engine J-36 fighter jet was spotted over the airport at Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s factory, the manufacturer of the fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter for the Chinese Air Force, on December 27. On the same day, China’s aerospace industry also revealed a second design for a fifth-generation stealth fighter and a new assault ship equipped with drones.

In a government-approved video, the J-36 showcased its advanced radar-evading design: a triangular fuselage and wing configuration without vertical tails. The jet features three engine nozzles fed by a low-mounted air intake, with an estimated maximum loaded weight of 50 tons.

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Decoding the Design

According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the overall shape was unsurprising, as the latest stealth aircraft tend to adopt similar basic designs, abandoning vertical control surfaces in favor of highly complex flight software to maintain stability.

The U.S. Air Force has acknowledged secretly flying a sixth-generation stealth fighter since 2020, with illustrations indicating that the experimental aircraft is also tailless.

However, Americans do not produce three-engine fighters, and for good reason: U.S. engine manufacturers, including General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, specialize in producing extremely powerful engines.

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The single Pratt & Whitney F135 engine powering the 35-ton Lockheed Martin F-35 generates 20 tons of thrust in afterburner mode, making it the most powerful fighter jet engine ever built.

While Chinese engines were historically weaker than their Russian counterparts—leading many Chinese jets to rely on imported Russian engines—China surprised the world by reverse-engineering the Franco-American CFM56 engine to create a domestic version, the WS-10, capable of producing 15 tons of thrust at peak performance.

China is currently developing the WS-20 engine, an upgraded version of the WS-10 with slightly more thrust. This engine is already being used in newly built J-20 aircraft.

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Why Three Engines?

The reason remains a mystery for now, but the triple-engine design could hint at advanced combat technologies being developed by the Chinese Air Force.

The J-36 may house three WS-10 engines, generating enough thrust to propel the heavy fighter to supersonic speeds even with a significant payload.

However, sheer thrust may not be the sole purpose. Modern fighter jets require substantial electrical power, often derived from their engines.

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According to The Telegraph, the J-36 could be particularly energy-hungry, as the Chinese Air Force, like its U.S. and allied counterparts, is focused on operating its latest manned fighters alongside drones. This collaboration may involve a human pilot commanding drone wingmen.

In a mixed formation of manned and unmanned aircraft, the manned jet serves as an airborne command center, transmitting and receiving signals to and from accompanying drones. This task demands significant power, especially when adding radars, sensors, and electronic warfare systems required by modern fighters.

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Other Possibilities

The British newspaper also suggests the possibility of directed-energy weapons, a stated ambition for most sixth-generation fighter programs. These weapons, including ray guns, could emit concentrated microwave beams capable of frying enemy electronics, similar to electromagnetic pulses caused by nuclear explosions.

They might also generate enough power to heat, burn, or damage targets—or employ high-powered lasers to evade enemy sensors or puncture defenses.

Finally, The Telegraph speculates that Chengdu may have broken conventional design molds by adding a third engine to the J-36 to meet the substantial energy demands that two WS-10 engines could not handle, making the triple-engine configuration ideal for the mission.

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