China conducted the flight of a third prototype of the J-36, its next-generation heavy fighter-bomber, reinforcing signs of steady progress in the development of future combat aircraft.
Images released on December 25 show the jet flying alongside a J-10C fighter, used as an escort aircraft, indicating it was a test flight. The new prototype appeared about a year after the first and a few months after the second, pointing to an accelerated development pace.
Analysts note that the three known J-36 prototypes show visible differences between them, especially in elements such as air intakes, engine exhausts, landing gear, and other structural details. These variations suggest that the Chinese aviation industry is testing multiple technical solutions in parallel before finalizing the aircraft configuration. The third prototype, for example, does not feature a flight data probe on the nose, present on previous models, although this does not necessarily indicate proximity to serial production.
Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the J-36 is often described as a heavy, three-engine aircraft associated with sixth-generation combat concepts, although this classification is still debated. Experts indicate that the project can perform both long-range strike missions, employing advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and strategic actions against land and maritime targets, prioritizing low observability and internal weapons carriage.
The expectation is that the J-36 will replace the aging fleet of JH-7 fighter-bombers in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, in service since the 1990s. Comparisons have also been made to the Russian Su-34, due to the focus on deep strike missions under the protection of air defenses and escort fighters.
Although Beijing has not released official performance data, the successive appearance of flying prototypes demonstrates the Chinese effort to expand its long-range strike capability and showcase technological advances in the military aerospace sector.
Source: The Aviationist / Defence Blog | Photo: X @Osint613 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Apparently this year China‘s Christmas surprise is not a super-fancy new type, but – itself most impressive – the maiden flight of the third J-36 prototype. pic.twitter.com/cdHNizMJ6t
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 25, 2025
