The race to achieve the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet, led by the United States and China, appears to have entered a new chapter. This follows the emergence of a series of recently leaked images that quickly went viral on social media, suggesting that the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation —one of China’s leading aerospace firms— has introduced significant changes and redesigns to what is presumed to be its new J-36 fighter-bomber, intended for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), following the maiden test flight of a second prototype.
First revealed virally at the end of 2024, the J-36 —an unofficial designation given by the defense community after observing the number “36” on its fuselage and the letter “J,” referencing the prefix used by the PLAAF for its fighters— is one of two alleged sixth-generation aircraft designs currently under development in China. Its most distinctive feature is its adoption of a flying-wing configuration.
Throughout the current year, the aircraft has been spotted performing various test flights, allowing observers to identify several key features, such as its unusual three-engine propulsion setup and a reinforced landing gear.
The aircraft’s large size, compared to other models and to the so-called “J-50” —the other alleged sixth-generation fighter under development by Shenyang— suggests that it could be a heavy fighter-bomber or a stealth tactical bomber. It is also plausible that this is a technology demonstrator designed to test experimental systems that could later be integrated into China’s current fourth- and fifth-generation combat aircraft.
This notion appears to be reinforced by confirmation of a test flight of what is believed to be the second J-36 prototype, which introduces substantial changes to the landing gear, exhaust system, and air intake design. These modifications could favor maneuverability over the stealth performance observed in the first prototype.
The most noticeable change in the recently leaked images is the landing gear. While the first prototype observed in late 2024 featured a tandem landing gear configuration, this new J-36 model abandons that setup in favor of twin side-by-side wheels —a change that could improve space efficiency during retraction and allow for smaller gear doors.
However, the most radical alterations affect the aircraft’s presumed stealth capabilities. In the first prototype, the exhaust system was embedded within the fuselage, reminiscent of Northrop Grumman’s YF-23, prioritizing stealth and speed over agility.
By contrast, and following a design trend seen in the Shenyang J-50 —also referred to as the J-XDS— the new prototype appears to feature 2D thrust-vectoring nozzles. Although the available images do not reveal detailed features, the J-36’s design team seems to have prioritized maneuverability at the expense of stealth. This shift also raises questions about the aircraft’s intended combat role and whether the military’s operational requirements are evolving.
Another significant change concerns the air intakes located on the forward section of the fuselage. The original prototype, which had been undergoing test flights until recently, featured intakes similar to those of the U.S. F-22. The new design, however, appears to incorporate Diverterless Supersonic Intakes (DSI) —a hallmark of stealth aircraft— perhaps in an attempt to compensate for the potential loss of stealth due to the exhaust modifications.
Finally, and with more questions than answers regarding this second J-36, it is believed that the aircraft remains in a development and concept-demonstration phase. This suggests that the final design of what could become the future fighter-bomber of the Chinese Air Force is still far from being defined, and that Chengdu is still some distance away from producing pre-production or production-ready models.
Another possibility is that the ongoing test flights form part of a series of design options being evaluated to meet the yet-unknown program requirements, as neither Chengdu nor official Chinese sources have disclosed details regarding the aircraft’s development status.
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