SOURCE: AFI
In recent developments from the Chinese aerospace industry, a sixth-generation fighter jet, believed to have made its maiden flight on December 26, 2024, has captured the attention of military analysts worldwide. Japanese defense experts have commented on this new aircraft, with some reactions encapsulated in the phrase, “China is amazing,” hinting at a possibly orchestrated narrative of Chinese technological superiority. However, beneath this surface praise, there lies a more critical and skeptical analysis.
The jet’s design has been a focal point for Japanese analysts, particularly its unique three-engine configuration. One expert noted, “The first thing worth pointing at and laughing at is that it’s a three-engine aircraft.” Historically, adding an extra engine to aircraft, often seen during wartime conversions of transport planes into bombers, was more out of necessity due to insufficient power than a choice for advanced design. The placement of the engine intakes is another point of contention. With one intake positioned at the rear of the cockpit, it’s described as “just ridiculous” by some, drawing comparisons to more experimental or fictional aircraft designs like the Focke-Wulf or those from anime series like “Yukikaze” and video games like “Ace Combat.”
Moreover, the Chinese jet’s form as a flying wing rather than a blended wing design, as seen in other modern aircraft like the Maeve and Mitsubishi Shinden II, raises questions about its practicality and aerodynamic efficiency. While blended wings can justify certain design choices, a pure flying wing for a multi-role fighter bomber, especially with such an unconventional engine setup, seems to some analysts like an ambitious step that might not necessarily translate into battlefield effectiveness.
The “China is amazing” rhetoric, as interpreted by some Japanese analysts, appears to be part of a broader propaganda strategy suggesting that China’s technological prowess in military aviation is so formidable that it almost guarantees victory in any conflict scenario. The narrative seems to push an idea of inevitability, encapsulated in phrases like, “China is a great country that is ahead of the world in technology and can even build planes like this, so if you fight a country like that you’re bound to lose, so just surrender quickly.” This could be viewed as an attempt to psychologically influence adversaries or potential adversaries by showcasing not just military hardware but also the narrative of technological dominance.
However, these reactions from Japanese defense analysts also underline a critical assessment of the actual combat readiness and technological maturity of such innovations. The skepticism regarding the jet’s design choices, like the engine configuration and intake placement, suggests that while China’s advancements are notable, the practical implications of these designs in actual combat scenarios remain to be seen.
This discourse reflects not only on the capabilities and intentions of China’s military technology but also on the broader strategic communication and perception management in international military relations. The mix of awe, skepticism, and strategic analysis by Japanese experts reveals a nuanced understanding of how technological showcases can be part of larger geopolitical maneuvers.