The Chinese military publication “The Shipborne Weapons” magazine has made a bold claim about the new J-36, the sixth-generation fighter.
The publication, which is affiliated with the China Ship Building Industry Corporation, reported that the Chinese J-36 stealth fighter could block US B-21 Raider bombers’ access to airspace over 1000 km for the Chinese mainland, which includes the US bases in Guam if a conflict develops over Taiwan.
China’s J-36 Fighter Threat
According to the article, once the J-36 fighter is in service, the PLA can intercept US warplanes trying to penetrate the first island chain. It said it would also be possible to conduct airspace blockades lasting one to two hours and to suppress the air defense of bases in Guam from a distance.
“This will make it difficult for the US Navy and Air Force to maintain air superiority over the western Pacific and to intervene militarily in a series of operations by the Chinese military within the first island chain,” the article stated in the March edition.
The article added that if China and the US ever go to war over Taiwan, the mainland Chinese and US air forces would most likely focus on fighting for control of the airspace about 1,000km (621 miles) from the Chinese coast.
The article also stated that the J-36 is being developed due to the Chinese weakness in possibly defending itself against the B-21 Raider bomber.
US Addresses And Confirms China’s Claims of First Island Chain
The US has acknowledged the claims made in the Chinese magazine that in a future conflict over the first island chain, the US will struggle to establish complete “air superiority over the Western Pacific” and that the J-36 could even attain air superiority over US military bases like Guam for one to two hours.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said in a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting that China is rapidly advancing its air combat capabilities and is in a position to “deny” the US air superiority in the first island chain, the strategic archipelagos in East Asia comprising Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.
“China’s unprecedented aggression and military modernization poses a serious threat to the homeland, our allies, and our partners (in the Indo-Pacific),” Admiral Paparo stated.
“China is outproducing the United States in air, missile, maritime, and space capability and accelerating these,” he added.
“If you do not hold the high ground along the first island chain, you are vastly limited in your ability to operate,” Paparo said. I think everybody knows the importance of the high ground. So ceding air superiority is not an option if we intend to maintain capability against our adversaries and the ability to support our allies.”
The Admiral then made a sobering but very true statement regarding the situation regarding an air war close to China over Taiwan.
“Air supremacy is the complete mastery of the air. Neither side will enjoy that. But it will be my job to contest air superiority, to protect those forces that are on the first island chain, such as the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, and also to provide windows of air superiority to achieve our effects.”
China’s Concerns Center Around the B-21
According to Shipborne Weapons, the B-21 Raider alone was the threat to China that they were most concerned about, and even a massive fleet of the PLA’s active J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter may not cope with it. Why?
The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is much more than just a bomber—it’s a high-tech command-and-control platform capable of controlling drones and flying uncrewed missions.
For years, developers of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber have discussed plans to operate the new platform as a command-and-control sensor node in the sky, connecting groups of drones, crewed aircraft, and ground locations.
Without fins, tails, or protruding shapes, such as externally carried weapons, a smooth, horizontally blended wing-body B-21 is engineered to elude surveillance and engagement radar by appearing like a “bird” to enemy radar.
Without definable contours for electromagnetic “pings” to bounce off and deliver a rendering or clear return signal to enemy radar, platforms like the B-21 are designed to arrive secretly, target, and attack without an adversary even knowing they are there. The Air Force is expected to buy at least 100 B-21s.
“The B-21 … is well capable of travelling over 2,000km from Guam to perform ‘loitering air superiority’ missions for several hours in the vicinity of the first island chain, which is between 800km and 1,000km away from mainland China,” Shipborne Weapons said.
The article stated that by controlling the airspace between Guam and the First Island Chain, the B-21s could loiter for hours and fire stand-off missiles at Chinese land and sea targets while establishing a safe corridor for its navy, logistics, reconnaissance, and early warning units, as well as other strategic bombers, such as the B-52H, B-1B, and B-1A aircraft.
This would exhaust and drain Chinese air defenses, as they would have to intercept “endless air-to-ship, air-to-ground, and even hypersonic missiles.”
Chinese aircraft carrier strike groups would also have to retreat within the cover of their land-based air force, “making it very difficult to achieve their strategic goal of building air and sea defense and an offshore early warning system,” the article added.
Is the J-36 the Answer?
The J-36 would solve many of these issues. It would feature full-spectrum stealth, an extended range facilitated by a tri-engine configuration, and a large internal weapons bay capable of carrying various weapons depending on the mission.
The side-by-side twin-seat cockpit architecture is reportedly designed to optimize manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), enabling real-time control of loyal wingman drones in complex air operations.
What is essentially a Chinese propaganda video spells out how China foresees the J-36’s capabilities.
Regardless, the US recognizes that the air battle over Taiwan will be a tough one.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications
Hank
May 8, 2025 at 10:08 pm
If the US attacks China, China will attack America. The Chinese will win.Computer simulation shows China will defeat US.We should be friends not go to war.If China gave the aircraft carrier killer missiles to Houthis, the USS H Truman would be destroyed.
Jim
May 10, 2025 at 11:15 am
There are the high-tech issues outlined by the author.
But it’s also the numbers of aircraft being built.
China is producing, seemingly, large numbers of everything; aircraft, ships, submarines, and various land weapons, as well… and getting competitive, not just in numbers, but in technology, too, as this article points out.
Do we want an arms race against China?
That’s the problem (one of them) with going to war against China over Taiwan.
China is the largest manufacturing nation in the World.
Xi justifies China’s arms buildup as necessary to facilitate reunifying Taiwan to China.
Do we want a policy (Taiwan defense) which drives China to build military capacity beyond even what the United States can do, unless we move to a ‘war footing’ and maybe, not even then?
Defending (‘strategic ambiguity’) Taiwan is a dangerous policy. Better to ‘cut a deal’ where China relinquishes extra-judicial territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea in exchange for United States acknowledgment Taiwan is part of China, and reunification must be peaceful (as is stated in our original agreement — the One China policy).
And, a date certain for the reunification process (that’s where the rub is for China).
Military men such as the general mentioned above have to deal with the policy given them. But politicians create, shape, change or end policies.
That’s what we need regarding Taiwan. Being politically ossified about the dangers regarding Taiwan is has left us in the predicament we now face.
China engaging in an arms race to take Taiwan by force.
It’s the height of stupidity to keep playing this game.
We’re losing big time.