In basic terms, a sixth generation fighter is a conceptual fighter aircraft, still in development, that will combine manned and unmanned capabilities, artificial intelligence, advanced weaponry such as hypersonic and directed energy weapons, radar avoidance techniques and advanced combat networks.
China’s sixth-generation fighter programs are showing notable progress, with updated prototypes taking to the skies just 10 months after their initial public unveiling, signaling a rapid push to challenge the United States for air supremacy. In recent days, images have begun to circulate on social media showing what appears to be the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s latest sixth-generation fighter in flight. The aircraft, unofficially called J-36, features a distinctive design: tailless and with three engines.
Analysts note that this second prototype includes significant improvements, such as angular exhaust nozzles that replace the recessed versions of the previous model, underscoring China’s effort to close the gap with American air combat capabilities. China’s latest sixth-generation fighter prototypes incorporate design tweaks aimed at improving stability, maneuverability and stealth ability. For example, the aircraft’s angled exhaust nozzles could help solve handling problems during certain phases of flight.
As it seems, the rumored 2nd J-36 prototype was finally revealed showing some interesting changes:
1. the side intakes are revised (now a DSI (?), formerly caret)
2. redesign main landing gear (now two wheels side by side rather than tandem).
3. exhausts looks like TCV pic.twitter.com/qK63434yiS— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) October 28, 2025
On the other hand, tailless designs are inherently unstable, and thrust vectoring can maximize performance over the entire flight range, even at high altitudes. The J-36 also features a three-engine configuration with one dorsal and two lower air intakes, now using diverterless supersonic intakes. to improve your stealth. Another improvement is the revised landing gear, with wheels arranged in parallel instead of tandem.
The significant changes suggest that The aircraft is still in the flight testing and development phasepossibly following an accelerated iterative design process intended to bring it closer to a production-ready state.
The aforementioned reports indicate that the fighter could represent an alternative configuration rather than a direct evolution of the previous prototype. The updated model was sighted about a month after notable modifications were observed on another Chinese tailless sixth-generation fighterthe J-50, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, highlighting China’s rapid experimentation with advanced fighter designs.
This rapid progress of Chinese sixth-generation fighters comes as the US moves forward with its own next-generation aircraft, the F-47. Announced in March, The F-47 is being developed by Boeing, with production reportedly set to begin in September.
It is still unknown when secret testing of the two Chinese sixth-generation fighters began, however historical precedents suggest that rapid progress is possible. If the New aircraft built in Chengdu and Shenyang maintain a similar pace, could enter service as early as January 2031possibly ahead of the US Air Force’s planned schedule for its sixth-generation fighters.