Chinese J-21 Emerges!

This week a photograph emerged of what appears to be a new Chinese fighter. The mysterious aircraft wrapped in a camouflage tarpaulin was delivered from Shenyang by flat-bed lorry to a testing location. The shape (it is possible that it is a mock-up) appears to have no tail surfaces or canopy fitted. It is likely that this is the new Shenyang Aircraft Corporation J-21 (the designation J-60 has been used by some in connection with this aircraft), the Chinese equivalent to the US Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. 

The shape is apparently similar to that of the F-35, with faceted low-RCS shaping and a conventional wing and tail. The aircraft seems to be somewhat smaller than the F-35 (which is 15.67 m long), with an estimated length of 14-15 m, though size estimates are notoriously difficult  to get right. A good example of this is the J-20; early guesstimates put the aircraft as long as 22 metres, whereas today many analysts believe it is not much bigger than than the 18.90 m long F-22 Raptor . 

There is some confusion about how many engines the new aircraft will have, but this shape appears to be twin-engined, unlike the single-engined F-35. It seems likely that the aircraft will be twin-tailed, with outward canted vertical fins. That it was transported by road and allowed to be photographed suggests a staged leak.

Alternatively, the aircraft could the rejected XXJ contender that lost out to the J-20, this aircraft may carry the designation J-19. But, this seems unlikely as the airframe appears to small for this fighter class. It seems that Lockheed Martin have set a template for what a modern low-RCS fighter looks like, and the F-35 and F-22 are likely to influence most fighters now in development (though the Russian Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA with its wide-body shares something of the YF-23, and the J-20 is an altogether different concept). 

Several models and artist’s impressions (above and below) have been realised purporting to show the configuration of China’s next fighter. If the new fighter has not yet been test flown it is unlikely to enter service before 2025.