New Chinese stealth fighter with three engines and futuristic design stirs excitement in the international military community (X @Clay_PLAPAP)
A new video showing a Chinese fighter jet with a futuristic design is attracting attention on social media and among military aviation experts.
It is a tail-less aircraft with three engines, nicknamed by Western analysts as the J-36. The images show the jet flying over a road near the runway of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group factory, where it is believed to have been developed.
Since the end of last year, photos of the aircraft have been emerging on social media, fueling speculation about its capabilities and technological advancements.
The J-36 is considered a sixth-generation fighter prototype, equipped with advanced stealth technologies, onboard electronics, and structural engineering. Expert David Cenciotti highlighted the unusual design of the jet, with three air intakes for the engines, two under the wings and one behind the cockpit, which is different from conventional twin-engine fighters. The underside of the fuselage also suggests internal space for armaments, such as long-range missiles. These elements indicate a leap in China’s military development, positioning the country as a potential direct competitor to the U.S. in this new generation of fighter jets.
In addition to the J-36, another tail-less model with two engines, known as the J-XX or J-50, also appeared in images released around the same time. Although neither has been officially recognized by Chinese military authorities, state-run media such as the Global Times indicate that the country is making rapid progress in this sector.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is also working on its sixth-generation fighter, the F-47, whose contract with Boeing was recently announced, but is still in the early stages of development.
Source: CNN | Photo: X @Clay_PLAPAP | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
J-36 pic.twitter.com/PJ1Thqt4tZ
— Sweet Clay (@Clay_PLAPAP) April 7, 2025
