China showed the sixth generation fighter
China, September 14, 2026 – The footage was filmed at an exhibition of the latest military technologies, which showed, among other things, the Chinese sixth-generation J-36 fighter from Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. The tailless shape, three-box jets and a cockpit hidden by a yellow tarpaulin attracted attention.
The length of the machine is approximately 21-23 m, the wingspan is approximately 19-24 m, the combat radius is more than 4 thousand km, the maximum take-off weight is 50-60 tons, the speed is Mach 2-5.2, the maximum range is more than 6 thousand km, the effective dispersion area is approximately 0.001 m². Changes in the appearance of the prototype indicate that the flight test program is developing rapidly. The J-36 uses a hidden DSI air intake and built-in nozzles. This combination is used to reduce the radar and thermal signal while maintaining controllability during flight.
The J-36 fighter is expected to be designed to perform a wide range of combat missions, including electronic warfare and interception of strategic targets such as AWACS aircraft, refueling aircraft, and enemy command posts. Despite some speculation about the transition to the initial production stage of the J-36, constant changes in the design of the intake ports, nozzles and other parts of the fuselage indicate that work on the project is still ongoing. China is moving its second sixth-generation fighter deeper into flight tests, and its biggest advantage may be the ability to deploy in large numbers. Serial production of the J-36 will begin at the end of this year.
The new fighter could replace older Chinese heavy aircraft such as the J-11B and Su-30MKK in the 1930s, quickly changing the composition of China’s combat fleet. The Shenyang and Chengdu prototypes are the only publicly observed tailless fighters currently in flight tests. Removing vertical tails reduces radar reflections, but requires advanced software and diffuse control surfaces to maintain stability and maneuverability. Research associated with the Shenyang program also looked at flight control technology for tailless aircraft operating from aircraft carriers. This opens up the possibility that the fighter could eventually serve in both the Air Force and the Navy.
