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China’s Next-Generation Fighter Designs Emerge
Ongoing flight evaluations of China’s two novel, advanced fighter designs are proceeding rapidly, offering fresh perspectives on both platforms. The latest visuals of the larger design, typically referred to as the J-36, although unofficially, present the clearest depiction to date of its three-engine exhausts and a new perspective on its possible two-seat cockpit. Concurrent visuals of the second model, known variously as the J-XDS and J-50, highlight a peculiar bay arrangement on the fuselage’s side, immediately behind the air intake, and showcase distinctive attributes like its pivoting wingtip control surfaces. These developments signal China’s ambition in modern military aviation, specifically with next-generation fighter designs.
J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 Detailed Analysis
Comprehensive assessments of both the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 have been previously documented, which readers can access for further particulars.
Image Authenticity Considerations
There are no explicit indications suggesting that the most recent images and videos of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 have been fabricated, although the potential, however minimal, remains. It is known that versions of some aircraft pictures have been intentionally amplified using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to extract greater detail, and are circulating online. Many cameras on smartphones now produce streamlined images by default.
J-36 Rear Aspect and Engine Exhausts
The newest J-36 visuals, featured in a recent video and accompanying still images, allegedly filmed in Chengdu, the home of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation responsible for the aircraft.
The recent rear view of the J-36 provides the clearest perspective yet of the engine exhausts for all three of its engines, already considered a conspicuous feature. As illustrated, petal-like extensions are now visible over the exhaust trenches situated inward of the aircraft’s trailing edge.
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This reinforces prior assessments regarding the J-36’s exhaust configuration and its notable similarities in form and function to that of Northrop’s YF-23. The YF-23 also showcased an unconventional intake design featuring boundary layer pores to enhance airflow.
Low-Observable Design Elements
The J-36’s exhaust arrangement is generally considered a low-observable design, for both radar and infrared signature management:
- Recessing the engine exhaust before the aircraft’s upper trailing edge is a classic low-observable design element.
- The ejected exhaust is spread out and has the potential to be actively cooled by this upper deck area.
- Above all else, this provides very limited line-of-sight to the engine exhausts themselves, which helps significantly in minimizing infrared signature, as well as radar cross-section, from most aspects.
J-36 Cockpit Speculation
The J-36 video also gives a new insight into the aircraft’s cockpit. Since the aircraft first emerged publicly, there has been speculation that it may have a two-seat cockpit with side-by-side seating. The imagery we have now is still inconclusive on this detail, but there is a possibility that two heads-up displays may be visible have been raised.
J-XDS/J-50 Developments
Additional images and videos of the J-XDS/J-50 from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation have also been circulating online in the past week.
Fuselage Bay Configuration
Most notably, a bay with a noticeable bulge at the front is now clearly visible on at least the fuselage’s right side, situated behind the air intake. It’s also positioned just ahead of the main landing bay on the aircraft’s side.
Purpose of the Bay
The purpose of the J-XDS/J-50’s bay, whether for weapons or another function, remains undetermined. Concerns have been expressed regarding the availability of adequate internal space to accommodate a relevant munition. China’s J-20 stealth fighter features weapon bays in similar locations, incorporating a novel configuration where missiles are fully ejected with their launch rails before firing.
Swiveling Wingtip Control Surfaces
Moreover, there are more distinct views of the J-XDS/J-50’s unique pivoting wingtip control surfaces. It has been previously assessed that these wingtips likely offer increased stability for the tailless aircraft, in addition to the design advantages and disadvantages as well.
Broader Military Aviation Development in China
While the details emerging regarding the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 garner significant interest, they only represent a subsection of wider military aviation development efforts currently underway in China, as well as undisclosed endeavors.
Unidentified Object at Jining Qufu Airport
Recently, circulating on Google Earth is a satellite image is showing an unusual object with a stealth fighter-like resemblance, featuring a modified diamond-like delta platform, canards, and twin vertical tails, positioned on the apron in front of the passenger terminal at Jining Qufu Airport in Shandong Province, eastern China. Additional satellite imagery confirms its presence since at least September 2024. This is particularly noteworthy, since Jining Qufu Airport, previously co-located with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s Jining Air Base, was officially decommissioned in December 2023.
Potential Mock-up or Decoy
The nature of the ‘airframe’ remains ambiguous, with a high likelihood of it being a mock-up. It shares some rough resemblances with the Baidi Type-B, or “White Emperor,” a fictional ‘space fighter’ concept displayed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) at the 2024 Zhuhai airshow.
Comparisons to Previous Sightings
Comparisons have also been drawn to vaguely J-20-esque ‘shapes’ observed at Lintao Air Base in north-central China in 2022. However, the wing structure and nose of the object at Jining are distinctly different from those at Lintao, those are also be mock-ups or decoys.
New Advanced Chinese Aircraft Speculation
A recently circulated video on social media has generated speculation regarding the emergence of another advanced Chinese military aircraft. The video quality and distance make definitive conclusions challenging, and its origins remain unclear. The visible characteristics do not directly correspond with any recognized Chinese designs. Furthermore, its overall shape diverges from the still-unidentified tailless fighter-like airframe observed at Shenyang’s main plant in January.
Pattern of Emerging Chinese Aircraft Designs
Notably, it is not unprecedented for advanced Chinese aircraft designs to surface unexpectedly. The notable appearance of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 in flight on December 26th, without prior visuals of either aircraft, serves as a compelling illustration.
Future Developments
The ongoing evaluations of the J-36 and J-XDS/J-50 are steadily uncovering additional information about these configurations. It has been previously anticipated that relatively high-resolution images of the two aircraft will emerge by early summer, aligning with established patterns of Chinese rolling ‘leaks’.
Should other advanced Chinese military aircraft be currently undergoing flight testing or progressing through later development stages, further specifics are expected to surface in due course.