China’s J-36 Sixth-Gen Stealth Fighter Makes Test Flight: What We Know So Far

China’s rumored sixth-generation stealth fighter—tentatively designated the J-36—has reportedly completed a high-speed loop maneuver during a recent test flight. While official details remain scarce, open-source imagery and defense industry leaks suggest that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is accelerating development of a next-gen platform aimed at countering U.S. and allied air superiority efforts in the Indo-Pacific.

What We Know About the J-36 So Far

The designation “J-36” has not been officially confirmed by Chinese authorities or state media but has been widely adopted by defense analysts to describe a new sixth-generation manned stealth aircraft under development by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC), the same firm behind the fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon.

Recent satellite imagery from commercial providers and leaked photos circulating on Chinese social media platforms suggest that prototype testing is underway at CAC’s facilities in Chengdu. The latest report—originating from World Defence News and corroborated by several independent OSINT accounts—describes a high-speed loop maneuver conducted during a test flight over western China in early September 2025.

This flight marks one of the first publicly reported dynamic performance tests of what could be China’s first sixth-gen fighter. While no technical specifications have been officially released, defense experts believe that the aircraft incorporates features such as:

Advanced low-observable (LO) shaping beyond current fifth-gen standards
Adaptive cycle engines for greater thrust and range
AI-enabled sensor fusion and decision support
Manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capability with loyal wingmen UAVs
Directed energy weapons or advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems

Strategic Context: Why Sixth-Gen Matters Now

The emergence of a potential Chinese sixth-gen platform comes amid parallel efforts by other major powers to field next-generation combat aircraft. The U.S. Air Force has already flown its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) demonstrator under tight secrecy, while Europe is progressing on both the UK-led Tempest program and Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

The timing of this test flight suggests that China is seeking to avoid falling behind in what amounts to an arms race for air dominance beyond 2030. According to RAND Corporation analyst Jeffrey Engstrom, “China views air superiority as essential for both regional deterrence and power projection.” A credible sixth-gen capability could allow Beijing to deter U.S. carrier strike groups or enforce exclusion zones over Taiwan or disputed South China Sea areas.

Maneuver Details Point to High Agility Design

The reported high-speed loop maneuver indicates that aerodynamic testing has progressed beyond basic envelope expansion into more advanced agility trials. Such maneuvers are critical for validating control laws under high-G conditions and assessing structural integrity at transonic speeds.

If confirmed, this would place the J-36 program ahead of schedule compared to earlier estimates which projected initial flight testing no earlier than late 2026. Defense aviation expert Andreas Rupprecht noted on X (formerly Twitter) that “the shape seen in recent imagery shows planform alignment optimized for all-aspect stealth,” hinting at a blended wing-body design similar to NGAD renderings.

Technology Enablers: Engines, AI & EW Integration

A key enabler for any sixth-gen platform lies in propulsion technology. China has struggled historically with developing indigenous jet engines capable of matching Western performance levels. However, reports suggest that CAC may be testing an adaptive cycle engine akin to General Electric’s XA100 used in NGAD prototypes.

Additionally, integration of artificial intelligence will be central to achieving true next-gen capabilities. This includes onboard AI copilots for pilot workload reduction and real-time sensor fusion across radar, EO/IR, SIGINT, and datalink inputs.

The aircraft is also expected to feature robust electronic warfare capabilities including digital RF memory jamming suites and possibly directed energy weapons for missile defense or anti-drone roles.

Manned-Unmanned Teaming Likely Core Feature

One of the defining features of sixth-generation fighters globally is their ability to command semi-autonomous UAVs—often referred to as “loyal wingmen.” These drones can perform ISR sweeps, carry additional munitions or act as decoys during contested operations.

Chinese defense firms such as AVIC have already showcased concepts like Feihong FH-97A at Zhuhai Airshow capable of MUM-T operations with human pilots issuing commands via secure datalinks. It is highly likely that CAC’s J-36 will incorporate such capabilities from inception rather than retrofitting them later as seen with some legacy platforms.

Implications for Regional Security Balance

If operationalized within this decade, the J-36 could significantly alter regional military balances—especially if deployed alongside upgraded variants of the J-20 or integrated into joint operations with long-range missile systems like DF-21D/DF-26B anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) assets.

This would complicate U.S., Japanese, Australian and Taiwanese planning assumptions regarding air superiority timelines and force posture resilience across first-island-chain scenarios.

Caveats & Unknowns Remain Substantial

No official confirmation exists regarding IOC timelines or production targets for the J-36 program. Furthermore, China’s historical tendency toward opacity in military aviation developments means many claims must be treated cautiously until corroborated through reliable imagery or state media disclosures like those seen during previous unveilings (e.g., J-20 debut at Zhuhai).

Conclusion: A New Phase in Global Airpower Competition?

The reported test flight of China’s alleged sixth-generation stealth fighter marks a potentially significant milestone—but one still shrouded in ambiguity. If verified through further evidence or official acknowledgment from Beijing, it would signal China’s intent not merely to match but possibly leapfrog existing fifth-gen paradigms through integrated AI-EW-MUMT architectures tailored for future battlefields.