China's enigmatic J‑50 fighter: A leap in aerial warfare
Initially, it was thought that the new Chinese fighter jet was essentially a drone and was given the designation J-36. However, according to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express, the construction from China is actually an aircraft with considerable capabilities. Named the Shenyang J-50, it took to the skies for the first time on December 26 at 12:00 AM Eastern Time.
In the last days of December, all eyes are on China, and with good reason, as the end of the year is particularly intense for their military. On December 26, which is the birthday of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, a mysterious aircraft produced by a company from China was showcased.
Soon after, photos of another mysterious construction attributed to a different manufacturer surfaced in the media. The name of the second machine was unknown, as was its purpose. It was widely assumed to be a drone with the provisional name J-36. Defense Express now reports that the true name of the mysterious machine is J-50. Moreover, it is not a drone but a fighter aircraft.
Characteristics of the J-50
According to Defense Express, the J-50 is in the prototype stage, but its capabilities already suggest that it could be a valuable asset in China's arsenal. Compared to the Chengdu J-20, the J-50 has several weapon bays, including one large bay capable of housing four PL-17 missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometres.
The J-50 can also carry the YJ-12 anti-ship missile, reaching speeds of Mach 3, approximately 3,600 kilometres per hour, and a range of 400 kilometres. Although details about its electronic systems are not known, they are expected to include the latest Chinese technologies.
Combat potential
The J-50 meets some of the requirements for sixth-generation fighters, including advanced stealth technology. However, whether it will have capabilities for supersonic flight, optional manning, or combat artificial intelligence is still unknown.
Defense Express also notes that considering the main requirements for a sixth-generation fighter, the J-50 already meets some of them. However, several details related to its specifications remain unknown, including those mentioned above.
