A potential image leak in China may have revealed the sixth-generation stealth fighter J-XDS, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC).
Also informally called the J-50, the aircraft stands out for its tailless design, thrust vectoring, and aerodynamic profile, as well as movable wingtips that aid stability. While the authenticity of the photos has not yet been confirmed, they show unprecedented details of the design and appear to match previous records.
The new images reveal distinctive features of the aircraft, such as a diamond-shaped nose with an integrated canopy, trapezoidal air intakes with DSI system, and F-22-like exhausts with serrated edges to reduce radar signature. It can also be identified as a single-seat fighter, along with the presence of an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) and side compartments with as-yet undefined functions. Small openings on the spine suggest auxiliary doors or sensor areas.
The J-XDS emerged alongside the super-heavy J-36 model, both revealed at the end of 2024, but until now the most detailed images were of the latter. If the J-XDS photos are legitimate, they indicate significant progress in China’s stealth fighter program, which may be closer to production than initially thought.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @zhao_dashuai | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
New pictures of the 6th generation fighter from China’s SAC.
The tailless configuration gives it all-aspect stealth, meaning it’s stealthy from all angles.
The edges are very long with minimal small protrusions and control surfaces like horizontal stabilizers.
This minimizes… pic.twitter.com/egLX7cy2Dg
— Zhao DaShuai 东北进修🇨🇳 (@zhao_dashuai) September 25, 2025
