Through a series of new images shared widely on social media, it has been confirmed that the other sixth-generation fighter under development to equip the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has completed another test flight—the second one recorded to date. This aircraft, which joins the so-called “J-36” produced by Chengdu, has been unofficially designated “J-50” by the expert community, with its development confirmed to be carried out by Shenyang, one of the giants of China’s aerospace industrial complex.
The confirmation of this new test flight comes just days after the announcement made by President Trump, confirming the selection of Boeing’s proposal to equip the U.S. Air Force with the sixth-generation F-47 fighter, beating out Lockheed Martin in the official evaluation.
Unofficially designated as the “J-50,” this is the second tailless stealth aircraft to be revealed, following the test flight recorded last December. That flight came after the maiden flight of what is believed to be China’s first sixth-generation aircraft, designated “J-36” after the number was seen on the sides of the fuselage.
As confirmed at the time, the flight of the “J-50”—in which some hints of the design direction for the next generation of combat aircraft could be seen—took place near the facilities of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. This company is responsible for the entire line of Chinese fighter jets derived from the Russian/Soviet Flanker family, including models like the J-15 and J-16, as well as the stealth fighter J-35 and its carrier-based variants for the Chinese Navy’s aircraft carriers.
The latest images circulating on social media reveal additional details of the aircraft, which—much like the J-36—has sparked both speculation that it is indeed a true sixth-generation fighter, and skepticism suggesting it might instead be a prototype or technology demonstrator for systems to be applied to other aircraft in the future.
As for the details, the images show what may be internal weapons bays on the sides of the fuselage, in a configuration similar to that of fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor and the J-20 Mighty Dragon. Additionally, a noticeable bulge on the nose section, similar to that of the F-35 and the upcoming J-35, may suggest that the J-50 is also equipped with various electro-optical systems, as well as an IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system—now considered essential for current and future combat aircraft in light of the increasing prevalence of stealth fighters.
Moving to the tail section, and unlike the J-36, the J-50 appears to be a twin-engine aircraft, following the trend set by current Chinese fifth-generation fighters such as the J-20 and J-35. There is speculation that this twin-engine jet could be equipped with two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles. Other details also point to the possible presence of diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), a feature found in fighters such as Chengdu’s J-10B/C.
These design elements offer a novel solution that eliminates the need for traditional intake ramps and cones, improving airflow and control to the engines while also reducing weight, mechanical complexity, and costs typically associated with conventional designs.
Finally, compared to the images taken last December, the clearer new photos allow for a more precise look at the lambda-shaped wing configuration adopted by Shenyang, as opposed to the trapezoidal shape used on the J-35. This design decision—considering these are experimental and functional prototypes—brings both advantages and disadvantages.
While this configuration may increase the aircraft’s stealth characteristics, it also brings a higher degree of manufacturing complexity and lower structural efficiency, increasing the cost of potential mass production. On the other hand, the lambda wing shape would offer better control and stability at low speeds.
In the end, as is often the case when new images emerge, some questions are answered while many more arise. It remains unclear whether—mirroring what is happening in the U.S. with the new F-47—both Shenyang and Chengdu are competing for a new stealth aircraft program for the PLAAF, or if these are two separate developments responding to different requirements: with the J-36 as a stealthy tactical bomber or strike aircraft, and the J-50 as a front-line or air superiority fighter.
The reality is that many secrets are still being closely guarded by both companies, which have issued no official statements, nor do they appear inclined to do so, leaving the status of these two new Chinese aircraft programs shrouded in mystery.
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