SOURCE: AFI
A compelling new image has emerged online that may provide the clearest look yet at what is believed to be China’s 6th-generation stealth aircraft, widely referred to as the J-36.
If authentic, the image offers a detailed frontal view of the mysterious jet, highlighting its advanced design and potentially revealing key insights into the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) next-generation capabilities.
Key Features Visible in the New Image
The photo, which appears to have been taken from a distance using a long lens and shows the aircraft on the ground, is especially notable for several reasons:
- Canopy and Cockpit Design: The image clearly shows a dual-cockpit layout, confirming long-standing speculation of a side-by-side seating arrangement — a configuration rarely seen outside of select tactical bombers or specialized strike aircraft.
- Three Ventral Weapons Bays: What appears to be three open ventral weapons bays suggests a substantial internal payload capacity, underscoring the J-36’s likely hybrid role as both a very heavy fighter and a tactical stealth bomber.
- Overall Size and Design: The proximity of nearby personnel and support equipment accentuates the jet’s large scale. It appears bigger than any current Chinese fighter, hinting at long-range and multirole capabilities.
- Dorsal Inlet and Rear Section: The aircraft features a dorsal inlet consistent with reduced radar signature design, although some visual inconsistencies in the rear section have prompted questions about possible image tampering or lens distortion.
Questions About Image Authenticity
While the image is compelling, it is not without anomalies:
- There appear to be smudged or cloned-out areas near the dorsal inlet and rear fuselage, possibly from post-processing or due to overexposure/glare.
- The image itself seems to be a photo of a monitor displaying the original photo, which introduces potential distortion and default enhancements from smartphone cameras.
- Some shadows and the landing gear area look irregular, especially on the right side, leading to suspicions of either digital manipulation or occlusion by objects placed near the aircraft.
Despite these issues, the overall composition of the image aligns with known infrastructure at the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s facility, including the distinctive white slatted jet-blast barrier in the background. This site was also the location where both the J-36 and the J-XDS (or J-50) — believed to be another Chinese 6th-gen program — were first observed last December.
Believed to be developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the J-36 has reportedly been spotted conducting multiple test flights in recent months. The jet appears to be part of China’s broader push into 6th-generation air dominance technologies, alongside directed-energy weapons, optionally manned capability, and advanced AI-enabled combat systems.
The aircraft’s large size, blended wing-body design, and internal weapon bays strongly suggest a stealth-first approach optimized for both penetration strikes and air superiority, potentially mirroring the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) concepts.
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