The emerging and still somewhat mysterious 6th-gen Next-Generation Air Dominance jet will continue to evolve over the coming years, and there are still many more questions than answers. Early available renderings of Boeing’s new stealth fighter show two semi-circular canards on each side of the fuselage and small forward wings in front of the aircraft’s larger wings.
Unsurprisingly, the apparent existence of such canards generates endless speculation and analysis as they introduce impactful aerodynamic questions.
J-20 Fighter via computer generated artist rendering. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
What are they intended to accomplish?
Do they limit performance in any way?
The F-47 Canard Question
Essentially, canards add stability to flight trajectory by introducing more “lift” toward the upper parts of the fuselage by directing airflow, which, scientists explain, enables greater maneuverability at slower speeds. However, by themselves, small protruding canard structures do not necessarily limit speed and can increase agility.
The F-35 and F-22 do not have canards, nor do Russia’s Su-57 or China’s J-35, but the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-20 5th-gen stealth fighter has canards.
J-20 Canards
Interestingly, the J-20s canards are much larger than those seen on the Boeing image, which is significant given that protruding structures can increase radar signature and drag. While canards can increase drag, the extent to which this happens largely depends upon their placement and size.
This design element seems quite significant, as the canards on the PLA AF’s J-20 are much larger than the small canards visible on the available image of the F-47.
It might make sense that the canards are added to the F-47 to support its air-to-air combat maneuverability, particularly given that the frame of the NGAD does not appear to have any fins or vertical structures typically used to enable high-speed vectoring better.
With small canards increasing stability and agility, engineering on the F-47 might allow for air-to-air combat dominance and high-speed maneuverability. The intent here would make sense because although the absence of fins and tails might significantly increase stealth, it could potentially limit maneuverability.
This feature speaks to the very essence of the kind of breakthrough the F-47 presents, as engineers may have uncovered a way to bring stealth to the next level without compromising agility and the ability to vector and dogfight at top speeds. The canards can help the aircraft maintain stability while maneuvering at high speeds.
Canards & Stealth
What about canards and stealth? It might seem that angular protruding structures of any kind would likely increase an aircraft’s radar signature and decrease its stealth effectiveness. This obstruction is likely in the case of the J-20, where forward canards are large and angular.
However, the canards visible on the F-47 renderings appear smaller, rounded, and circular in a way that appears to blend into the fuselage more seamlessly.
The smooth configuration of the F-47s canards could be designed to bring the stabilizing advantage of canards without compromising stealth.
An essay in Bulgarianmilitary.com suggests that the canard signals an effort to prioritize speed over stealth.
Clearly, the question involves difficulty balancing among different variables and tradeoffs in some cases.
F-47 Fighter from U.S. Air Force.
Yet, the canards visible on the F-47 appear blended and may not necessarily decrease stealth effectiveness or increase its radar signature. Large canards, such as those on the J-20, seem much more likely to decrease stealth effectiveness.
Boeing’s vice president of advanced aircraft programs, Linda Harrow, is quoted in Bulgarianmilitary.com addressing this question of balance. “We’re building an aircraft that will meet the Air Force’s needs for decades, blending cutting-edge stealth with unmatched performance,” she said.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is Military Technology Editor of 1945 and the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
