Over the course of yesterday, the clearest images yet of the sixth-generation J-50 fighter (also known as J-XDS) in full view while standing on the ground began to circulate, the very same aircraft that Shenyang is reportedly developing to equip the Chinese Air Force in the future. These are two photographs that surprised observers and analysts alike, as they clearly reveal details of an aircraft not yet officially presented, raising suspicions about whether it was a computer-generated product (CGI), something later denied by researchers specialized in Chinese aviation.
Delving into some details, the open-source intelligence (OSINT) outlets that published the material on social media indicated that both photos were taken by a local photographer who decided to climb the fences of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation airfield, thus obtaining a privileged position to focus on the aircraft. In this way, it can be clearly noted that the design features a single-pilot cockpit, while also standing out for the absence of a tail—following the same line as the known sketches of the new American F-47.
It is also worth noting that the photographed aircraft no longer has the data probe that was installed on the unit previously seen during test flights, suggesting new advances in the program. It is also clear that the design includes not only a propulsion system consisting of two engines but also incorporates 2D thrust-vectoring technology, which will provide it with greater maneuverability as it allows control of two of the aircraft’s three degrees of freedom (pitch, roll, and yaw). Another noteworthy detail is its new electro-optical targeting system, located on the underside of the fighter’s nose.
Broadening the lens on China’s sixth-generation fighter programs, it is also important to recall that another design known as the J-36 is under development, which has also been observed and photographed on previous occasions. While it is still unclear whether these are technology demonstrators or if they will be fighters intended to operate side by side in the future for the Chinese Air Force, it is evident that both follow a flying-wing concept without rear stabilizers, although they present differences indicating they are designed for different roles.
As we reported last April, the J-36’s design is characterized by a greater wingspan and size compared to the fighter mentioned thus far, as well as by having three engines instead of the two found on the J-50. On the other hand, they differ in that the latter model presents a lambda-wing design, which increases aerodynamic efficiency compared to the trapezoidal wing design of the J-36, while clearly maintaining the stealth standards already typical of fifth-generation fighters, although to a lesser degree than its counterpart due to the articulated surfaces observed in previous images.
Following the logic outlined so far, speculation about the future of each aircraft abounds, although one of the most plausible theories suggests that each is intended to complement the other on the battlefield. In that sense, the J-36 developed by Chengdu could operate as a tactical stealth bomber given its aforementioned characteristics, while Shenyang’s J-50 would reach the hands of Chinese pilots to serve as a frontline multirole fighter.
Finally, it is relevant to point out that with the publication of the new photographs of the J-50 fighter, an unofficial trend continues in which China seems to showcase its sixth-generation aircraft almost immediately after U.S. announcements regarding the sixth-generation F-47 fighter developed by Boeing, which is being developed under greater secrecy. On this occasion, the appearance of the Chinese aircraft occurs during the same week that Washington confirmed that its design has already entered the production stage, with the aim of having a unit ready for its first flights in 2028.
*Image credits to whom it may concern
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