China’s stealth fighter, the J-36, has captured global attention after achieving what few believed possible, landing on an aircraft carrier during a fierce sea storm. Unlike the American F-16 Fighting Falcon or Russia’s Su-57M, the J-36 executed a successful touchdown amid six-metre-high waves, setting a new milestone in military aviation.
The test is ought to have been conducted earlier this year in the South China Sea, where the J-36 landed on the Fujian aircraft carrier. It tested the limits of what could be achieved by fighter jets, highlighting China’s advanced capabilities and defying conventional aviation powers.
Designed for Power and Precision
The J-36, having a distinctive ginkgo leaf-shaped flying wing, is propelled by three WS-19 engines. It is 23 metres in length and has a weight of 54 tonnes, bigger and heavier than its counterpart, the J-20. Equipped with long-range PL-15 missiles and supersonic weapons, it has impressive beyond-visual-range firing capabilities.
What sets the J-36 apart is its dependability in harsh conditions. While other fighter planes struggle to land on carrier decks even in smooth seas, the J-36 achieved the miracle in a ferocious storm, demonstrating its unparalleled toughness.
The Technology Behind the Achievment
One of the main innovations behind this feat is the jet’s Direct Force Control (DFC) mechanism. Though it is tailless, the aerodynamic problem in itself, the J-36’s DFC can make ultra-fine surface changes in microseconds, allowing controlled and precise landings in turbulent weather. The technology is said to be borrowed from robotics, with the plane becoming flexible and responsive.
During the 2025 test, naval observers from Western nations are said to have observed as the J-36 landed effortlessly on the Fujian, a feat few international forces are capable of matching.
Made for High-Stakes Deployment
The J-36 is optimized for co-firing the Fujian aircraft carrier’s electromagnetic catapult launcher, enabling the fighter to be launched quickly and with tremendous force. This synergy enhances China’s operational footprint, particularly across strategically sensitive zones such as the Indian Ocean.
Besides its maneuverability and firepower, the jet also features an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and electronic warfare capabilities integrated into it, making it capable of addressing stealth, reconnaissance, and jamming in a single mission-capable platform.
