The supposed third J-36 prototype emerged precisely a yr after the primary one was noticed in December 2024.
Chinese language army aviation observers noticed what they imagine to be a 3rd prototype of the J-36 next-generation plane, after pictures and movies of it flying overhead emerged on the afternoon of Dec. 25, 2025. They’ve additionally maintained that is the plane’s first check flight, with a J-10C seen flying beside it as a security chase plane.
Main Chinese language army analyst Andreas Rupprecht stated: “Apparently this yr China‘s Christmas shock shouldn’t be a super-fancy new kind, however – itself most spectacular – the maiden flight of the third J-36 prototype.” Ought to the J-36’s third prototype be confirmed, China would now have a complete of 5 next-generation tailless plane, together with the three J-36 prototypes, the Shenyang J-XDS/J-50, and a 3rd unidentified jet.
It seems that Chengdu Plane Company (CAC), the amenities the place the J-36 is steadily photographed, has concurrently produced three prototypes with totally different configurations of the engines’ consumption and exhaust, the touchdown gear, together with probably a number of different unidentified avionics, sensors and software program modifications to scale back the time required earlier than the serial manufacturing and operational fielding.
Apparently J-36 #3 had it’s FF pic.twitter.com/QN5xKvD9bJ
— Hûrin (@Hurin92) December 25, 2025
Given the well being of China’s economic system, self-sustaining protection industrial base, and all-domestic aerospace provide chains, the large monetary and logistical value of pursuing 5 next-generation jets have to be negligible for Beijing. This could in any other case be extraordinarily prohibitive for a lot of nations already struggling to maintain their current fighter fleets.
We additionally have no idea whether or not these new Chinese language jets may be referred to as sixth technology, as we had defined earlier than. In reality, the classification continues to be a topic of army and engineering debate, largely emanating from protection advertising campaigns.
A jet may very well be anyplace between a Gen. 5+ or Gen. 6, relying on who you ask. What must be famous nonetheless is the constant, regular emergence of recent plane and weapons from Chinese language factories, which has a PR motive in itself to show China’s technological prowess.
#3 J-36 with J-10C chase aircraft
TVC and dsi as anticipated pic.twitter.com/giMm67bl24
— Hûrin (@Hurin92) December 25, 2025
Third J-36 prototype
We are able to see little variations between the second and the third prototype, primarily owing to the low decision of the picture that has been taken from a substantial distance and thus doesn’t present any options of the engine intakes and the underside. The plane seems to retain the 2D-thrust vectoring management (TVC) nozzles that finish earlier than the wing’s trailing edge, as seen within the second prototype that appeared on Oct. 28.
That second prototype, as we famous in our protection right here at The Aviationist, beside the 2D-TVCs, was additionally differentiated by the principle touchdown gear being in a side-by-side association, slightly than the tandem configuration like the primary prototype, and revised facet intakes with probably a Diverterless Supersonic Consumption (DSI) configuration, as a substitute of the caret-shaped ones on the primary.
Within the latest prototype, the touchdown gear can also be retracted, so we’re unable to see if that function has been altered in any means. One other distinguishing function is that the third prototype is lacking a flight knowledge probe on the nostril, seen prominently within the first two J-36 plane, though this doesn’t point out whether or not the jet is nearer to serial manufacturing.
The jet’s tactical function can also be an space of hypothesis. The J-36 is up to now believed to be anyplace between a heavy-fighter, firing a volley of extraordinarily long-range AAMs just like the PL-15 and PL-17, and an especially stealthy surface-strike weapon, taking out strategic targets.
Since not too long ago too many faked Pictures of the J-36 have been posted and this one appears to be like nearly too good to be true I’d say, let‘s be sceptical once more! 🤔
— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) June 6, 2025
We requested Rupprecht about what differentiates this third J-36 prototype from the others, and he informed us “there don‘t appear to be any variations – perhaps the already now not hooked up pitot.” Nevertheless, he additionally stated the information in regards to the third prototype “comes from credible posters, thumbs are often very credible in telling issues round CAC and are stated to know much more.”
Nearer take a look at the J-36’s exhausts
March and November additionally noticed the emergence of rear-aspect photographs of the J-36’s first and second prototypes, respectively, which want some consideration, particularly amid China additionally parallely churning new jet engines. The picture in March confirmed the primary J-36’s exhausts fairly clearly, exhibiting recessed-like association much like that on the YF-23.
J-36 pic.twitter.com/UbF44AHV4w
— OedoSoldier (@OedoSoldier) March 29, 2025
The November picture of the second J-36’s confirmed the TVCs and the break up trailing edges. The exhausts seem much like a composite materials casing seen on the F-22 Raptor, and have been additionally clearly seen on the stunningly and surprisingly clear picture of the J-XDS that appeared whereas it was taxiing. These exhausts do seem to share the 2D high and backside composite TVCs seen on an exhibition show of the “Taihang” WS-10 late in September.
TVCs for a big tri-engine jet just like the J-36 might make up for lack of aerodynamic maneuverability arising from an unstable tailless design. Nevertheless, a 2D TVC nevertheless operates solely within the ‘pitch’ and ‘roll’ axes of flight, and never the ‘yaw’ axis which may very well be coated solely with a 3D TVC and may very well be helpful for a tailless plane.
Thus, a proof may very well be that the composite TVCs primarily have an infrared signature-reducing function. Conical exhausts additionally provide better thrust outputs, though pure velocity may not be a precedence for the J-36’s supposed mission set.
The exterior equipment have additionally clearly been improved, making the engine look extra streamlined. Most significantly, such a “Taihang” engine makes use of a 2D thrust-vectoring nozzle much like that of the F-22A fighter.2/ pic.twitter.com/AVH6wMBjb0
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 (@TheDeadDistrict) September 26, 2025
China’s fifth Gen fighter jet aero engine which is the subsequent technology of WS15/F119/F135：ACE(Adaptive Cycle Engine) , has produced a whole bodily prototype, and has examined on the bottom and engine altitude simulated check facility. That is the Chinese language model of GE XA100. pic.twitter.com/mpUswSqK7t
— 冬夜雪域冰莲炎 (@SnowLotusFlame) November 2, 2025
Early in November, photographs additionally emerged of a presentation slide that recommended China had accomplished floor exams of its personal Adaptive Cycle Engine (ACE), much like GE Aerospace’s XA102 and Pratt & Whitney XA103, considered one of which could energy the F-47 NGAD (Subsequent-Technology Air Dominance) fighter. Adaptive cycle engines introduce a 3rd stream of airflow and alter the bypass ratio, permitting the pilot to decide on fuel-efficient or efficiency effectivity modes.
