Understanding the Firepower Behind China’s J-50 and J-36 Stealth Aircraft

China’s future combat aviation concepts, represented by the J-50 and J-36 designs, illustrate a significant evolution in long-range strike and air dominance capabilities. The graphics analyzed here provide insight into their potential weapons configurations and the strategic intent behind these platforms.

J-50: Multi-Role Stealth Fighter with Precision Payloads

The J-50 appears to be a twin-engine, tailless stealth fighter featuring a full-flying wing design and an advanced aerodynamic layout similar to a blended body configuration. Its dimensions — approximately 21.2 meters in length, 18 meters in wingspan, and 2.2 meters in height — suggest a design optimized for reduced radar cross-section and high maneuverability.

According to the diagram, the J-50 carries an internal weapons bay capable of housing a balanced mix of air-to-air, anti-radiation, and precision-guided munitions, indicating a multirole design philosophy.

• PL-10 Short-Range Missile (3m): This missile serves close-in dogfight roles, powered by a solid rocket motor with a range of 25–30 km. It uses advanced imaging infrared seekers for high off-boresight engagement, comparable to the AIM-9X or IRIS-T.

• PL-15 Medium-Range Missile (4m): A long-range beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile with an active radar seeker and dual-pulse rocket motor, capable of engaging targets over 200 km away. It represents the mainstay of the J-50’s air superiority role.

• PL-17 Very Long-Range Missile (5.7m): Designed for strategic BVR combat, this missile reportedly reaches 500 km+, allowing the J-50 to target support aircraft such as AWACS and tankers far beyond frontline engagement zones. It likely uses a combination of radar guidance and data-link updates.

• YJ-91 Anti-Radiation Missile (4.7m): Positioned on side bays, the YJ-91 provides the J-50 with an anti-radar strike capability, useful for suppressing enemy air defenses (SEAD missions).

• AKF-98A Air-Launched Cruise Missile (4m): Though not clearly specified, it appears to be a smaller standoff missile designed for precision strikes against high-value targets.

The overall loadout suggests that the J-50 aims to combine air dominance, suppression of enemy defenses, and standoff strike roles within one stealth platform — similar in philosophy to the U.S. F-35 but with a longer combat reach.

J-36: Hypersonic Strike and Strategic Air Superiority Platform

The J-36, as depicted, is a larger, stealthier aircraft optimized for long-range penetration and strike missions. Measuring 24 meters long, with a 21-meter wingspan and 2.9-meter height, it adopts a tailless configuration similar to sixth-generation fighter concepts.

Its configuration shows internal weapon bays capable of carrying larger munitions, including hypersonic and heavy long-range missiles. The J-36’s mission profile appears to emphasize strategic deterrence, hypersonic delivery, and extreme-range air combat.

The standout weapon integrated into the J-36 concept is the 2PZD-21 Air-Launched Hypersonic Ballistic Missile, which is approximately 7.5 meters long, 2 tons in weight, and capable of striking targets 1,500–2,000 km away. This missile could serve as a carrier-launched anti-ship or land-attack weapon, bridging the gap between conventional air-launched munitions and strategic ballistic systems.

In addition, the J-36’s compatibility with the PL-17 missile extends its air-to-air reach beyond 500 km, making it capable of targeting strategic assets across vast distances — from airborne command centers to refueling aircraft.

This combination of hypersonic and BVR weapons effectively transforms the J-36 into a dual-role platform — functioning as both a long-range interceptor and a deep-strike stealth bomber.

Strategic Interpretation

Together, the J-50 and J-36 represent a layered evolution of China’s next-generation airpower strategy. The J-50 focuses on tactical versatility and advanced BVR engagements, while the J-36 emphasizes strategic reach and hypersonic strike capabilities.

Their weapon suites — particularly the PL-15 and PL-17 missiles — extend the envelope of Chinese air combat far beyond visual range, while the 2PZD-21 hypersonic ballistic missile hints at a shift toward air-launched strategic deterrence.

By integrating these systems, China could significantly expand its air denial radius, challenging traditional assumptions about air dominance and long-range precision warfare in the Indo-Pacific region.