Flash News: Second Test Flight of China's Latest J-36 Stealth Fighter Highlights Rapid Advancements.

On March 17, 2025, three additional images of China's J-36 stealth fighter were released during its second flight test, offering a deeper look into the aircraft’s ongoing development. These images, shared by the X account @RupprechtDeino, provide further insights into the aircraft’s design and performance after its first public appearance in December 2024. The J-36, developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, serves as China’s prototype for a sixth-generation fighter, and while official details remain sparse, this second flight marks a significant milestone in its progress.
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China's J-36 Stealth Fighter in its Second Test Flight: A glimpse of the cutting-edge technology and rapid development driving China’s sixth-generation fighter program. (Picture source: Chinese Social Network)

The J-36’s tailless, diamond-shaped design is central to its stealth capabilities. This configuration reduces the aircraft's radar cross-section, making it harder to detect by enemy radar. This is a key area where the J-36 competes with the latest fighter programs from the U.S., Russia, and European countries, including the U.S. Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, Russia's Su-57, and the European FCAS and Tempest programs. The J-36's stealth design, supported by radar-evading materials and an aerodynamic shape, could rival the stealth performance of U.S. fighters like the F-35 and F-22. Unlike Russia’s Su-57, which retains some traditional design elements, the J-36 represents a more modern and radical approach to stealth, which could make it more challenging to detect by advanced radar systems.

The J-36 is also speculated to offer multi-role capabilities, potentially functioning as a “supercruising launching platform” for long-range missiles or as a command hub for coordinating other aircraft. This multi-role flexibility is becoming increasingly important in future conflicts, where air superiority fighters must also be capable of carrying out a range of other operations, including precision strikes and mission coordination. The U.S. NGAD program, which is expected to incorporate similar multi-role capabilities, is also focused on creating a versatile fighter capable of operating in various combat scenarios. However, the J-36’s potential to serve in such diverse roles could give China a strategic advantage in terms of operational flexibility and adaptability across multiple theaters of combat.

One of the standout features of the J-36 could be its supercruise capability — the ability to fly at supersonic speeds without using afterburners. This would allow the aircraft to maintain high speeds over long distances without the fuel penalties typically associated with afterburner use. Both the U.S. F-22 and the upcoming NGAD are expected to feature supercruise capabilities, and Russia’s Su-57 and European fighter programs are working toward fully integrating this feature as well. If the J-36 incorporates supercruise, it could significantly enhance its range and mission endurance, allowing for greater operational flexibility in high-speed intercepts and long-range strikes.

As a sixth-generation fighter, the J-36 is also expected to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems, potentially offering capabilities far beyond those of current fifth-generation fighters. AI could enhance decision-making, target identification, and mission management, and the J-36 may be able to operate alongside unmanned aircraft in a networked combat system. This would position the J-36 alongside the U.S. NGAD and European Tempest programs, both of which are focused on integrating AI into their next-generation fighters. The ability to incorporate autonomous capabilities could give the J-36 an edge in future combat scenarios where human decision-making is augmented by AI.

Another critical aspect of the J-36 is its advanced avionics and sensor fusion. The aircraft is likely equipped with cutting-edge radar and sensor systems that would allow it to operate effectively in contested airspace. By integrating data from multiple sensors, the J-36 could create a comprehensive picture of the battlefield, enabling it to detect and track adversary aircraft in various conditions. This capability is crucial for future air combat, and China’s development of advanced sensor fusion systems for the J-36 could make it competitive with U.S. and European systems like those in the NGAD and Tempest programs.

While the J-36’s tailless design might initially suggest limitations in terms of maneuverability, the aircraft has already demonstrated impressive agility in recent flight tests. This suggests that the J-36 is optimized for high-performance agility, enabling it to engage in both close-range dogfights and long-range missile engagements. The Su-57, Russia’s advanced fighter, was designed with a focus on agility and aims to outperform its adversaries in close combat. The J-36’s combination of stealth, speed, and maneuverability could make it a versatile competitor in both dogfights and strategic engagements.

In terms of weaponry, the J-36 could be designed to carry and deploy hypersonic missiles, a key area of interest for many nations. Hypersonic weapons are seen as the next frontier in precision strike capabilities, and their integration into the J-36 would give China a significant edge in terms of long-range precision strikes. The U.S. and Russia are also working on hypersonic missiles, but if China can successfully integrate such weapons into the J-36, it could elevate the aircraft's strategic value.

One potential advantage the J-36 may offer over its Western and Russian counterparts is cost and production efficiency. China has a well-established infrastructure for mass-producing advanced military hardware, which could allow the J-36 to be produced in large numbers at a lower cost compared to more expensive Western or Russian aircraft. If China can scale production effectively, the J-36 could be deployed in large fleets, potentially overwhelming more limited-supply and costly fighters from other nations. This could be particularly advantageous in regional conflicts where air superiority is key.

In conclusion, the J-36’s advanced stealth capabilities, potential supercruise, AI integration, and multi-role flexibility make it a formidable competitor to the latest fighter programs from the U.S., Russia, and European countries. Its capabilities in sensor fusion, autonomous operations, and hypersonic missile integration could position it as a game-changer in future air combat scenarios. While the U.S. NGAD, Russia’s Su-57, and European programs like Tempest are also expected to offer similar capabilities, the J-36’s design and advanced technologies position China as a serious contender in the global race for sixth-generation fighter superiority.

It is important to note that much of the J-36’s capabilities remain speculative at this stage, and official details are yet to be fully confirmed. As the aircraft continues to undergo flight tests and development, further information may shed light on its actual performance and how it compares to its Western and Russian counterparts. However, based on the current available data and expert analysis, the J-36 appears to be a highly promising aircraft that could reshape the future of air combat.