Chinese scientists are developing cutting-edge landing systems for the next-generation J-36 stealth fighter—a tailless, flying-wing aircraft currently under development for the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
The J-36 is notable for its unconventional design—triangular, tailless, and equipped with three engines. The lack of a tail provides a stealthier radar profile but removes crucial control surfaces that help stabilize the aircraft, especially during low-speed, high-precision maneuvers such as carrier landings. According to a peer-reviewed paper in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, this aerodynamic challenge is being tackled with a new “direct force control” system.
The research, which has garnered attention via a report in the South China Morning Post, explains that pilots attempting to land the J-36 face intense difficulties, from unpredictable pitch control to turbulence caused by ship-generated airwakes. These problems are compounded by the aircraft’s size, estimated to be up to 75 feet long and weighing as much as 119,000 pounds, considerably larger than the current J-20 stealth fighter.
To overcome these landing challenges, the team has implemented a Fixed-Time Disturbance Observer (FTDO), a technology borrowed from advanced robotics. This AI-assisted system adjusts control surfaces in real-time, allowing the pilot to bypass traditional aerodynamic databases and respond directly to external disruptions, whether from ship motion or atmospheric turbulence.
Testing has involved simulations of sea conditions with waves up to six meters high, demonstrating that direct force control helps maintain stable flight paths even amid chaotic deck movements. While still under refinement, the system shows promise in enabling precise carrier landings for a jet design that had previously been considered too unstable for such operations.
Social media leaks—possibly orchestrated by the Chinese government—have already shown glimpses of the J-36 prototype. Some observers compare its triangular form to a ginkgo leaf, while others focus on the jet’s rare three-engine configuration. This setup could provide enhanced thrust for long-range missions and heavier payloads, but at the cost of higher fuel demands and increased maintenance complexity.
Details about the propulsion remain scarce, but China will likely equip the J-36 with its most advanced engines, such as the domestically developed WS-15, to match its long-range mission goals.
Ultimately, the landing system under development isn’t just about keeping a futuristic jet from crashing into a heaving flight deck. It’s about expanding the operational envelope of the PLA Navy—allowing next-gen stealth aircraft to project power far from the Chinese mainland, in open-ocean theaters that demand high autonomy, adaptability, and resilience.
If successful, the project could lay the foundation for a new era in naval aviation, where tailless flying wings routinely take off from and land on aircraft carriers, redefining what’s possible in military aviation.
