The Chinese company Chengdu has once again demonstrated progress in the development of the presumed sixth-generation J-36 fighter-bomber for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), after military aviation observers detected what appears to be a third prototype of the aircraft in flight on December 25, 2025—exactly one year after the model’s first public appearance.
According to images and videos circulated on social media, the new aircraft reportedly conducted its inaugural test flight over the facilities of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), accompanied by a J-10C fighter that likely served as a safety or chase aircraft during the test.
According to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), this would be “the inaugural flight of the third J-36 prototype.” If the existence of this third airframe is confirmed, China would currently have five next-generation aircraft adopting a flying-wing design, including the three J-36 prototypes, the Shenyang J-XDS/J-50, and another model that has yet to be identified.
Available imagery suggests that CAC may be developing multiple configurations in parallel, with variations in air intakes, engine exhausts, landing gear, and possibly avionics, sensors, and software systems. This strategy would aim to shorten the time required for serial production and entry into operational service.
Unlike the first prototype, the second J-36—recorded in October 2025—featured visible changes such as a side-by-side main landing gear arrangement instead of the original tandem configuration, as well as revised lateral air intakes, possibly of the DSI (Diverterless Supersonic Intake) type. In the case of the third prototype, the landing gear was retracted during flight, making it impossible to confirm modifications to that component.
Another distinguishing feature is the absence of the flight-test data probe on the nose, which was present on the first two prototypes. However, specialists caution that this difference does not allow a determination as to whether the aircraft is closer to a definitive production configuration.
Regarding differences between this third prototype and the second, analysts note that “there does not appear to be any difference, except perhaps that the Pitot tube is no longer installed.” They also emphasized that the information comes from “credible postings,” citing direct knowledge of activity around the Chengdu facilities.
Meanwhile, in May, new images provided a frontal view of the J-36 that confirmed the width of its cockpit and its large canopy, while also highlighting the size of the fuselage. Trapezoidal lower air intakes, similar to those of the F-22, were visible, along with a large electro-optical window on the side of the nose.
As for the propulsion system, images captured in March and November 2025 allowed observation of the J-36’s exhausts, which feature a recessed configuration similar to that of the YF-23, together with two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles (2D-TVC). These may serve a dual purpose: compensating for the aerodynamic limitations of a design without vertical surfaces and reducing the aircraft’s infrared signature.
The 2D-TVC nozzles act on the pitch and roll axes, but not on yaw, suggesting that their primary role may be more closely linked to thermal management than to extreme maneuverability. It has also been reported that China has completed ground tests of an adaptive cycle engine (ACE), comparable to the U.S. XA102 and XA103 programs, although there is no confirmation that this system is intended for the J-36.
From an operational standpoint, the tactical role of the J-36 remains under analysis. Some assessments position it as a long-range heavy fighter capable of employing air-to-air missiles such as the PL-15 and PL-17, while others view it as a stealth strike platform against strategic targets, closer to a tactical bomber than to a traditional fighter.
The J-36 program is being developed in parallel with the Shenyang J-50, as we reported in September, the other Chinese project associated with the future generation of combat aircraft. While the J-50 features a twin-engine configuration and smaller dimensions, the J-36 stands out for its larger size, flying-wing design, and three-engine arrangement, reinforcing the hypothesis of differentiated roles within the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
Although there is no official confirmation regarding the generational classification of the J-36, specialists agree that its development reflects a sustained pace of testing and prototyping by the Chinese aerospace industry, in a context of increasingly intense technological competition in the field of advanced combat aviation.
*Image credits as appropriate / Cover image used for illustrative purposes.
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