China’s military aerospace machine has once again captured global attention, this time thanks to a set of recently leaked images showing a new tailless stealth aircraft now undergoing flight testing.
The aircraft depicted in the images appears with a sharply pointed nose and forward fuselage that seamlessly blends into mid-set, highly swept wings featuring a distinctive “W”-shaped trailing edge. There are no visible vertical stabilizers or tail surfaces, reinforcing the tailless, stealth-oriented approach. The jet’s broad body hints at significant internal space for fuel or payloads, though weapons bays are not clearly visible. It is shown with tricycle landing gear extended, possibly including a twin-wheel nose gear. An air-data probe on the nose, a typical feature in early flight test aircraft, further supports the idea that this design is still in its developmental stages.
Some images show twin bulges on the rear fuselage, suggesting a possible twin-engine layout. That configuration would be unusual for an expendable loyal wingman drone, which is generally designed to be lighter and more cost-effective. This has led many analysts to suspect that the aircraft could be crewed or at least built for more independent operations, possibly as a longer-range, more capable uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV).
If the aircraft includes a cockpit though none of the images confirm this yet it may represent a smaller, sleeker sibling to Chengdu’s massive J-36 super-heavy tactical jet. The new design shares several characteristics with the J-36, including its nose shape and air intake configuration. It could also be intended as a competitor to the Shenyang J-XDS, often referred to informally as the J-50. With Chengdu and Shenyang each pushing their own sixth-generation fighter programs, it would not be surprising if this was a direct competitor to J-XDS, optimized for a more traditional fighter role rather than the deep-strike mission expected of the J-36.
This idea is consistent with China’s apparent strategy of fostering design competition between major aerospace contractors, similar to how the United States encouraged parallel development tracks from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman for its own sixth-generation fighter plans. The new design’s proportions, although difficult to scale from the images, suggest a jet that could fit into the medium-weight fighter class, with the potential to be adapted for land-based or even carrier-based operations.
Despite the compelling evidence for a crewed platform, some experts believe this may be one of China’s advanced Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) projects stealth drones intended to fly in coordination with manned fighters. According to Chinese aviation expert Andreas Rupprecht, the aircraft likely belongs to this category, especially given China’s recent focus on drone development and artificial intelligence integration into combat systems.
This would make the new jet part of a larger swarm of “loyal wingmen,” capable of working alongside or even independently of human pilots. China’s existing GJ-11 Sharp Sword drone is a leading example of this class, and the new aircraft could represent a higher-end, longer-range companion to it. The PLA is already building the infrastructure to support such systems, from airborne drone controllers like the two-seat J-20S to communication relays and coordination nodes aboard early warning platforms like the KJ-500.
The emergence of this tailless jet comes just weeks before the upcoming September 3 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II. Recent satellite imagery from a PLA base in Yangfang, near Beijing, shows five new drone-like aircraft being staged for display, four of which appear to have tailless designs with diamond-delta or cranked-kite wings. While the aircraft in question doesn’t seem to be a direct match to any of those spotted on satellite, the sheer variety of designs under wraps suggests a major reveal is imminent. This further fuels speculation that China, like the U.S., is developing a family of CCA platforms through multiple design pathways.
The United States is already advancing its own CCA efforts, with the General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44A expected to fly in 2026. These platforms are part of an evolving strategy to integrate uncrewed aircraft into front-line operations in a scalable, flexible manner. China seems to be pursuing a similar model, if not moving faster in some respects. Not only has the PLA embraced uncrewed combat aircraft, but it is also experimenting with swarming, long-range operations, and aircraft teaming driven by artificial intelligence.