Images and videos released on July 23, 2026, on Chinese social networks show what analysts identify as the fifth flying prototype of the J-36, a sixth-generation aircraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (not officially confirmed by Beijing). The plane is a large, tri-engine, tailless stealth fighter.
The new unit features design refinements, combining DSI-type supersonic air intakes (introduced in later prototypes) with recessed exhausts similar to those on the first model, seeking a better balance between stealth, propulsion efficiency, and flight control.
The program has progressed rapidly: the first prototype was publicly seen in December 2024, followed by others in 2025 and early 2026.
Some experts speculate that the fifth airframe might mark the start of low-rate initial production (LRIP), although still-visible changes indicate active development continues. The J-36 is viewed as a long-range system intended for air superiority and strike missions in the Indo-Pacific, with the capability to threaten support aircraft (tankers, AWACS, etc.).
The information is based on open-source intelligence. (OSINT)
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