China’s race to dominate the skies just hit a new gear. Less than a year after its first reveal, a tailless, triple-engine fighter jet believed to be Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s sixth-generation prototype has been spotted in flight, signaling a rapid leap forward in the country’s military aviation ambitions.
Images circulating on Chinese social media show the stealthy aircraft, unofficially dubbed the J-36, cruising at altitude with a distinctly futuristic silhouette. The tailless design, smooth fuselage, and three-engine layout suggest an emphasis on both stealth and speed, placing the jet squarely in competition with the United States’ next-generation air dominance programs.
According to The War Zone, the latest prototype introduces angular exhaust nozzles that replace the earlier recessed design. These sharper nozzles could help improve directional control and stealth while addressing stability challenges common to tailless aircraft. Such designs are inherently unstable, requiring advanced fly-by-wire systems and thrust vectoring to maintain maneuverability across high-performance flight conditions.
The triple-engine layout is another bold move. With one central dorsal intake and two lower side intakes, the configuration uses diverterless supersonic inlets, improving radar cross-section and reducing drag. Analysts believe the addition of a third engine aims to enhance thrust and endurance while allowing for sustained supercruise, a capability currently dominated by US fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 Raptor.
Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post reports that the new jet also sports a redesigned landing gear setup, with wheels now positioned side by side rather than in tandem. This adjustment suggests ongoing aerodynamic fine-tuning and structural evolution as Chengdu engineers iterate through test flights.
The new prototype is believed to be part of an accelerated flight-test program that could see the aircraft reach production readiness by the early 2030s. The update also follows recent sightings of another tailless sixth-generation jet, the J-50, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. The simultaneous testing of both designs hints that China may be pursuing multiple next-generation fighter concepts before settling on a final configuration.
Across the Pacific, the United States is developing its own sixth-generation aircraft, the F-47, under Boeing’s leadership. The Pentagon confirmed that experimental versions of the F-47 had been secretly flying since 2019, with a public debut and official first flight planned for 2028.
If China maintains its current pace, however, analysts warn it could field a production-ready sixth-generation fighter before the US. Sources close to the program suggest an operational debut as early as January 2031, an unprecedented turnaround for an aircraft of this complexity.
In the global race for air dominance, it’s clear that the sky is no longer the limit.
