New types of Chinese next-generation fighters
The world is constantly changing, and so we are seeing increasingly detailed images of two new fighter jet projects developed in China, as well as other, dare I say it, potentially interesting fighter-like objects.
Flight tests of two new Chinese next-generation fighter jets are ongoing, providing new information about both aircraft, at least based on photos and videos taken on smartphones. It's not exactly groundbreaking, but it's better than nothing, especially since China is making significant progress in this area.
The latest images of the larger of the two designs, called the J-36, show more clearly the exhaust pipes of the three engines and a new view of the possible two-seat cockpit.
Additional images of the second prototype, designated J-XDS and J-50, show an interesting compartment design on the side of the fuselage just behind the air intake, as well as other distinctive features such as rotating control surfaces on the wingtips.
Some experts are already speculating that the latest photographs and videos of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 were fabricated, but this is unlikely. Of course, neural networks can now be used to create anything, and these photos were intentionally enhanced using a neural network to provide more detail. Many modern phone cameras also smooth out images by default, so what's surprising?
But still, China isn't exactly the kind of country that would fight with "cartoons." That's a fact, and the fact that they're filming in China suggests that these aircraft actually exist and are being developed.
The most recent footage of the J-36 on video and related photographs can be seen in social media posts. They are claimed to have been filmed in Chengdu, which makes sense, as the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group is responsible for the aircraft's development.
The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in Chengdu itself includes:
- fuselage plant;
- aircraft engine plant;
- avionics plant;
- factory aviation components;
- Aircraft-building Research Institute No. 611;
- test site at Wenjiang Air Base.
From this it becomes clear that if any interesting information is leaking, it's definitely from the city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province. This information is leaking out little by little, and it's like kerosene on a fire, fueling interest in what's being produced within the aviation corporation.
As noted, the new rear view of the J-36 allows for a clearer view of the exhaust pipes of the three engines, which in itself is a distinctive feature of the aircraft.
After all, a three-engine fighter design is something new in global aviation. Before the Chinese aircraft, there were exactly one and a half aircraft in this category: the Soviet Yak-38 and the American X-48. The latter was produced in limited quantities, so a fully-fledged production aircraft is out of the question.
Yak-38
X-48
As seen in the photo below, "petals" are now visible above the exhaust ducts located inside the tailplane. This confirms previous analyses of the J-36 exhaust system and its similarity in form and function to the Northrop YF-23 system. The YF-23 also featured an exotic air intake design with boundary layer pores to improve airflow.
A top view of a Northrop YF-23 fighter jet, showing its exhaust system, including the grooves located inside the trailing edge and the "petals" protruding above them. U.S. Air Force
Overall, the J-36's exhaust system is an obvious way to reduce its signature to both radar and infrared detection systems. Recessing the engine exhaust ports ahead of the upper trailing edge of the fuselage is a classic stealth design feature, one that Northrop has largely adopted with Tacit Blue, the B-2 Spirit, and the YF-23.
Tacit Blue
The exhaust gases are dispersed and can be actively cooled in this upper fuselage. This primarily reduces the engine exhaust's visibility, significantly reducing its infrared signature and radar signature from all directions.
The J-36 video also offers a new look at the cockpit. Since the aircraft first appeared publicly, there have been rumors that it might feature a two-seat cockpit with side-by-side seating. The currently available images don't provide a definitive answer to this question, but it's possible that two separate displays are visible. Many military observers with expertise in aircraft have weighed in on this topic.
Over the past week, additional photos and videos of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's J-XDS/J-50 have also surfaced online.
As mentioned, the most interesting thing is that on the right side of the fuselage (we won't go into detail about the left side ahead of time), behind the air intake, a compartment with a pronounced bulge at the front is now clearly visible. It's located directly in front of the main landing gear compartment on this side of the aircraft.
A close-up of the J-XDS/J-50 bay on the right side of the fuselage.
It is unknown whether the J-XDS/J-50 bay is intended to accommodate weapons or for some other purposes. The question has already been raised as to whether there is sufficient internal space in this part of the aircraft to accommodate the appropriate munitions. It's worth noting that the weapons bays of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter are located in roughly the same location and have an unusual configuration: before firing missiles are fully extended together with the launch guides beyond the fuselage.
Additionally, there are clearer images of the unique rotating control surfaces on the J-XDS/J-50 wingtips.
Experts have previously noted that these wingtips likely provide additional stability for tailless aircraft. The advantages and disadvantages of this design solution deserve separate consideration.
While any new details about the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 continue to attract attention, they represent only part of the significant military aviation development efforts known to be ongoing in China, as well as additional work believed to be going on behind the scenes.
A satellite image, accessible via Google Earth, has also begun circulating online, showing a curious object resembling a stealth fighter jet, with a modified diamond-shaped delta platform, forward horizontal tail and two vertical stabilizers, on the apron in front of the passenger terminal at Qufu Airport in Jining City, Shandong Province, eastern China.
Additional satellite imagery from Planet Labs, reviewed in the United States, shows the object has been there since at least September 2024. This is doubly curious given that Qufu Airport in Jining, located adjacent to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Base in Jining, was officially closed in December 2023.
An object featured in a photo of Qufu Airport in Jining taken in March 2025.
A wider view of Qufu Airport's main terminal in Jining and the apron in front of it in a satellite image taken in March 2025.
While the purpose of this uniquely shaped object is unclear, it is highly likely a mockup of some kind. It bears some resemblance to the Baidi Type-B, also known as the "White Emperor," a "space fighter" considered a fiction in the United States.
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled the "White Emperor" at the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show, and there's no reason to dismiss this prototype as disinformation. Few initially believed in China's fifth-generation fighter either.
Comparisons have already been made with "objects" vaguely resembling the J-20 that appeared at the remote Lintao Air Base in north-central China in 2022. However, the wing and nose design of the object in Jining are noticeably different from those previously spotted at Lintao. These could also be mock-ups or decoys, or perhaps something else entirely.
Still unidentified "objects" spotted at Lintao Air Base in 2022
Side-by-side comparison of one of the Lintao "forms" (left) and an object discovered in Jining
A video is also circulating on social media, raising questions about whether another new Chinese military aircraft has surfaced. What can be deduced from the video is limited by the distance and the overall quality of the footage, which was impossible to correct even with a neural network. Its origin was also not immediately clear. What can be seen does not resemble any known Chinese designs. Its overall shape also doesn't match the as-yet-unidentified tailless fighter-like aircraft that emerged from the main factory in Shenyang in January.
At the same time, this is unlikely to be the first time a new, advanced Chinese aircraft has suddenly appeared. The spectacular appearance of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 on December 26 last year was similar, despite neither aircraft having previously been unveiled to the public.
The ongoing testing of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 is certainly revealing new details about these developments, thanks to China's well-established practice of information "leaks."
If other promising Chinese military aircraft are already in development or are nearing it, it's entirely possible that additional details about them will emerge. As always, by chance, on the internet.
Information