December 26 marked a milestone for the aerospace industry of the People’s Republic of China. As images and videos of what is believed to be the first sixth-generation fighter of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) went viral, additional material surfaced on the same day documenting the flight of another aircraft, also considered a next-generation design in development. Like the first, the presence of this second aircraft has sparked various hypotheses as analysts work to uncover more details.
The first confirmed difference, based on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), is that unlike the first aircraft (unofficially dubbed the “J-36”), which flew from Chengdu company facilities, this second one conducted similar tests departing from Shenyang’s facilities. Additionally, it was not escorted by a fifth-generation fighter but by a combat aircraft from the Flanker family, manufactured by the Chinese company.
Both aircraft share a tailless flying wing design, but the Shenyang model features a distinctive swept-wing shape. Notably, this second aircraft appears to be smaller in size and, based on images, is likely powered by two engines instead of three. This assumption is drawn from what seem to be two air intakes located beneath the wing roots.
Another question that has emerged, due to the angle of the images and videos, is the presence—or absence—of a cockpit. This raises speculation that the aircraft could be a new unmanned stealth design.
To date, a wide range of rumors and comparisons have arisen regarding the flights of both aircraft recorded on December 26. What is clear is that China continues to make significant strides in advancing and refining its aerospace industry, achieving increasingly complex designs that diverge from earlier models rooted in Soviet or Russian origins. This evolution is evident not only in aircraft design but also in the scale of production and the development of new engines.
Finally, as with the “J-36,” the roles and tasks envisioned for this aircraft remain speculative. Due to its smaller size, it could represent a new fighter design—whether manned or unmanned—with stealth capabilities. It is also unclear whether it is a fifth- or sixth-generation design. Moreover, this aircraft could form part of the future combat aviation duo of the Chinese Air Force for the coming decades or represent competition between the two companies for a potential order of prototypes and pre-series models in the years ahead.
Photo credits to their respective owners.
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