China’s Stealth Leap: Exclusive Footage Reveals Advanced Tailless, Three-Engine Fighter
A New Contender in the Skies
As the strategic competition for aerial supremacy intensifies between global powers, new exclusive footage has emerged showcasing China’s rapid progress in advanced military technology. The images depict a fresh prototype of what is being unofficially designated the “J-36,” a sixth-generation fighter aircraft observed in recent flight tests.
Design That Breaks the Mold
Developed by the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, this new fighter jet features a radical tailless design and is powered by three engines, a configuration that fundamentally distinguishes it from previous generations of combat aircraft. Military analysts note that this second prototype incorporates significant modifications from the first, including redesigned, angled exhaust nozzles that have replaced recessed models. These changes are widely interpreted as a clear signal of China’s intent to rapidly close the technological gap with existing global leaders in aviation.
Engineering for Superior Performance
The design refinements are engineered to enhance the aircraft’s stability, maneuverability, and stealth capabilities. The new angled nozzles are believed to resolve control issues encountered in certain flight phases. While a tailless design is inherently less stable, the integration of thrust-vectoring technology is expected to compensate and improve high-altitude performance.
Reports also indicate a unique three-engine layout, featuring one top-mounted air intake and two lower fuselage intakes that utilize a supersonic inlet system. Further changes include a redesigned landing gear, with wheels now positioned side-by-side instead of in tandem, a modification intended to provide greater stability during takeoff and landing.
A Accelerated Development Path
Experts caution that the aircraft remains in the flight-testing and development phase. However, the speed of the observed design iterations suggests China is employing an accelerated and iterative development process to reach a production-ready version faster. The emergence of this new Chengdu prototype follows just one month after the sighting of another sixth-generation fighter model, the “J-50,” from the Shenyang Corporation. This parallel development of two advanced fighter projects underscores the significant strides China is taking on its path toward achieving the next generation of aerial combat capability.