Key Points and Summary – The chief designer of China’s J-15 carrier jet, Sun Chong, has proposed a radical new concept for military aviation: fighter jets should be designed for rapid and regular upgrades, much like “mobile phones.”
-This vision would leverage artificial intelligence to dramatically speed up the design and manufacturing of new models, moving away from the slow, generational development cycles that currently define military aircraft.
-While this idea aligns with China’s rapid advancements in AI and unmanned systems, such as the new J-20S, the concept faces immense hurdles in terms of cost, complexity, and the need for constant pilot retraining.
China Has A Remarkable New Idea: Upgradeable Fighter Jets Like iPhones
The chief designer of China’s J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet offered a radical new idea for developing and upgrading Chinese military planes in recent days, suggesting that jets could be regularly upgraded like “mobile phones.”
According to a report by the CCTV News military channel on Tuesday, Sun Chong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, argued that China should radically change how it designs and manufactures its jets by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
The academic described how future fighter jets will increasingly incorporate unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, explaining how the latter would also accelerate the process of designing and manufacturing new or upgraded models.
“With advances in technology, China’s carrier-based aircraft will become more intelligent in the future,” Sun said.
“We need to produce aircraft the way we produce mobile phones,” he added.
The comments appear to suggest that, rather than manufacturing aircraft based on aging designs and incorporating new technology into older platforms before introducing a whole new generation of jets, China could utilize new technology to develop entirely new designs more quickly.
Is It Feasible?
The comments came as reports suggest that China’s J-20S stealth fighter, an updated twin-seat configuration of the J-20, has entered operational service.
The new jet is designed to be operated alongside unmanned “wingmen” – planes and drones that can perform more dangerous maneuvers, aided by a second pilot in the main stealth jet.
China is clearly building with artificial intelligence in mind and laying the groundwork for a new kind of aerial combat – and while the technology is promising, it can’t make Sun’s idea a reality. Yet.
While AI technology has made astonishing leaps in just the last three years, it has not yet proven capable of handling the vast majority of the design work that goes into producing new fighters.
There are also other major stumbling blocks. A more rapid upgrade cycle would require more frequent pilot training to ensure that they can operate the constantly changing machines, and the cost of doing all this, at least for now, would likely be astronomical.
As time passes and AI improves, however, it seems likely that China and other global powers, such as Russia and the United States, could adopt similar ideas. As planes become more autonomous, pilots may no longer need to be trained to operate aircraft in the same way they are now.
The Bottomline: China Has a Bold Idea
China has come a long way since it fielded its first stealth fighter less than a decade ago. Even without imminent changes to its aircraft research and development processes, it is already rapidly improving its military technology.
In some cases, China is even exceeding the capabilities of the United States’ jets by some metrics. Notably, the new J-20S is understood to have a range of 6,000 km – double that of the American F-22.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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Yeah
July 9, 2025 at 9:00 pm
The iPhone model of combat jets is already present in china.
The chief designer has simply failed to look. Perhaps he needs new glasses.
Take a look at the j-16. This is the iPhone of fighter jets. In china.
The j-16 has a large radome, twin engines, twin seat cockpit and large wings and ample range. Very similar to the American f-15, but slightly if clearly better. As it has a longer fuselage.
The j-16 can be further evolved into a hotrod machine by adding new radars, newer engines and a side-opening cockpit canopy.
And do away with the unduly large hump in the forward section of the jet. Lengthen the cockpit section instead. For more SATCOM gear.
Enlarge the radome to accommodate a bigger radar.
And include graphene components for certain areas.
It’s truly the iPhone of fighter jets. Just migrate away from the su-30 appearance it inherited from birth.
Jacksonian Libertarian
July 9, 2025 at 9:28 pm
This concept is already in operation for Drones in Ukraine.
Hundreds of drone makers are adapting their drones in real time while the operators provide real combat testing of what does and doesn’t work.
Of course, this won’t work for $100 million aircraft, but then manned aircraft are obsolete anyway.