As we’ve ushered in a new year, China’s military technology sector has been making waves with a series of groundbreaking achievements. The maiden flight of J36, a sixth-generation fighter has stunned the world, the oblique detonation engine (ODE) has redefined propulsion technology, the KJ-3000 airborne early warning aircraft has surged ahead of its global counterparts, the J-35 stealth fighter is entering mass production, and China’s drone technology continues to dominate the battlefield. These remarkable advancements are more than just a New Year’s gift from China’s defense industry—they are a bold statement to the world: China has not only caught up with the United States in air power but is now setting the pace, leveraging innovation to reshape the global balance of power.
In the past few months, China’s military technology has advanced at an unprecedented rate, transitioning from the role of a follower to that of a rule-maker. Nowhere is this transformation more evident than in the historic first flights of its sixth-generation fighters, a breakthrough that is rewriting the future of aerial warfare.
China’s Sixth-Generation Fighter: A Revolution in Air Power
J36, China’s sixth-generation fighter, has captivated the world with its revolutionary design, featuring a three-engine configuration, tailless architecture, and a blended wing-body structure. This next-generation aircraft boasts stealth capabilities far superior to those of fifth-generation fighters, along with significantly enhanced range and payload capacity. It may also incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as laser weaponry and AI-assisted combat systems.
Meanwhile, the United States’ Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program remains stuck in the conceptual phase, with no concrete flight tests on the horizon. Given the recent cuts to U.S. defense spending, the project faces even greater uncertainty. In stark contrast, China has already successfully test-flown not just one, but two different sixth-generation fighter prototypes. This unparalleled progress has put immense pressure on the West—particularly on the United States. As one American netizen wryly remarked, “The dad in The Shining chasing his son is basically the U.S. Air Force now.”
Oblique Detonation Engine (ODE): From Lagging Behind to Global Leadership
On February 26, The South China Morning Post reported that Chinese scientists had developed the world’s first kerosene-fueled oblique detonation engine, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 16 (approximately 20,000 km/h). The revelation sent shockwaves through the global aerospace community.
Traditional jet engines max out at Mach 4, while oblique detonation engines effortlessly exceed Mach 9, with future iterations expected to surpass Mach 10 and beyond. When combined with the world’s most advanced JF-22 wind tunnel—capable of simulating speeds up to Mach 30—China has laid the foundation for a new era of hypersonic flight.
KJ-3000: Pushing the Boundaries of Airborne Early Warning
Built on the Y-20 transport aircraft and powered by the WS-20 turbofan engine, China’s KJ-3000 AWACS represents a generational leap forward in airborne early warning and control. Equipped with multi-band radar and advanced cross-domain information-sharing capabilities, it effectively renders stealth aircraft visible and trackable.
This technological marvel not only outperforms the U.S. Air Force’s current E-3 AWACS by multiple generations, but even the yet-to-be-fielded E-7 pales in comparison. In the realm of airborne early warning systems, China is no longer just competitive—it is leading the world.
China’s Drone Supremacy: Swarm Tactics Reshaping the Battlefield
China has emerged as the undisputed leader in next-generation drone warfare, integrating reconnaissance, strike capabilities, and electronic warfare into an unprecedentedly effective system. Chinese stealth drones now operate in tandem with J-20 fighters, while low-cost supersonic UAVs act as lethal offensive assets. The “drone swarm” strategy is revolutionizing air combat, rendering traditional warfare tactics obsolete.
Had China supplied military drones to Ukraine without restriction, the outcome of the conflict might have been drastically different.
From F-22 Supremacy to China’s Air Dominance
There was a time when the United States dominated the skies with the F-22 Raptor and B-2 Spirit, forcing Chinese military analysts to theorize about how many J-8 fighters would be needed to take down a single F-22. Today, the landscape has changed completely. China’s sixth-generation fighter has no direct rivals, while even the J-20 and J-35 are more than capable of outperforming America’s current fleet.
Meanwhile, the oblique detonation engine is redefining the future of propulsion technology, and the KJ-3000 has established an impenetrable airborne intelligence network. The days when Chinese pilots had to rely on nighttime operations to evade American air superiority are long gone. After years of relentless innovation and development, China has ensured that it will never again be at a disadvantage in aerial combat.
For over 400 years, Western nations have leveraged military superiority to dictate global economic and political structures. However, China’s technological rise is breaking this monopoly, offering developing nations an alternative path to modernization—one that is independent of Western dominance. For the first time in history, non-Western countries can envision a future where military and technological leadership is no longer the exclusive domain of the West.
The fall of Western hegemony and the emergence of a multipolar world order is the collective aspiration of developing nations. From sixth-generation fighters to deep-space combat systems, China is not only showcasing its capability to deter conflict and ensure peace but is also pioneering the next frontier of aerial warfare.
As for those who seek to obstruct China’s reunification, one netizen summed it up best:
“In the past, you had steel, and we had steel-like determination. Now, we have steel too—so you’d better hope you have the same determination.”