New imagery of China’s ‘J-36’ very heavy tactical 6th generation jet has just emerged out of China. The photos shows a long-awaited perspective of the aircraft — taken from the front — that confirms our analysis that the aircraft features a very large and broad bubble canopy to go atop its equally broad nose section. Under that canopy would be two crew sitting side-by-side, similar to the F-111 and Su-34’s arrangement, among others. The image also offers a view of the dorsal inlet on the three-engined aircraft, along with its diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) ‘hump,’ which appears very large here.
Overall, the photos serve as a reminder of just how big this aircraft is. Like many tailless designs, especially stealthy ones, they can look far smaller from the side than from the front, top or bottom. While we have become accustomed to the J-36’s modified delta planform, the head-on perspective really underlines the proportions and mass of Chengdu’s next-generation tactical jet design.
J-36 landing. (Chinese Internet)
In the imagery, we can also just make out the J-36’s lower trapezoidal air inlets, similar to those found on the F-22, as well as one of the jet’s unique large aperture electro-optical windows on the side of the nose. That fixture is seen glaring gold in the low-angle light.
As is often the case, we must note that the imagery appears authentic, but we cannot be certain of that. Still, it was only a matter of time until we got a head-on angle of the J-36 and this screenshot of a DSLR camera screen (you can see the smart phone’s lenses in the reflection) goes along with the progression of ‘leaks’ out of China we have come accustomed to over many years when it comes to new military aircraft designs.
Very interesting but strange frontal view of the CAC J-36, which due to the „merging“ of the top air intake, DSI bump and the wide cockpit makes it look even wider … pic.twitter.com/xWFXAOjcFb
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) May 31, 2025
This new imagery also comes just days after we got the clearest look at Shenyang’s smaller, but still heavy-weight 6th generation fighter aircraft, referred to unofficially by a number of designations, including J-XDS and J-50. Not only do we get a more detailed underside view, but we also get a full side-on shot, which shows just how blended the canopy of the aircraft is with its upper fuselage, as well as a better look at the profile of its huge nose. The bottom view gives us a better look at the weapons bay arrangement, as well as its F-22-like nozzle configuration. We can also confirm an EO/IR blister (without its glass) under the nose. The aircraft looks to feature a single pilot/crew. The small side doors where a side weapons bay would likely go remain a bit of a mystery. The aircraft’s unique swiveling wingtip control surfaces are also very clear here. Once again, the profile of the nose is striking, and it clearly can accommodate a very large and powerful AESA radar.
You can read our very in-depth analysis on these two aircraft, including the knowns and the unknowns surrounding them, which still proves entirely accurate, at this link. Both aircraft were ‘unofficially unveiled’ via a series of videos and images spilling out of the country of presumably their first test flights back on December 26th, 2024. As we have stated since they first appeared, by summer we will likely have a look at all angles of both aircraft, and in increasing definition, based on how the flow of images of new high-profile military aircraft have historically appeared out of China.
So stay tuned for more.
Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com
