A new image has appeared online that has revealed China’s newest and most advanced stealth aircraft, the J-36. If the photo is real, it shows more than just a new plane. It may show the future of China’s air power. Bigger, stronger, and possibly smarter than anything we’ve seen before from the country, the J-36.
The photo shows the aircraft sitting on the runway. Although the image was taken from a screen and has some glare and blurry spots, many believe it is genuine. The background matches what is known about a testing facility run by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the same company that built the J-20. The J-36 is said to be in early testing and is one of two next-generation programs China is working on. The other is the J-XDS, also called the J-50.
Chinese media reports say it may be around 75 feet long and weigh between 99,000 to 119,000 pounds. That makes it much bigger and heavier than China’s current stealth fighter, the J-20, which weighs around 75,000 pounds. Experts say this could mean the J-36 is built for long-range missions and heavy weapons, similar to how the U.S. uses its B-21 Raider.
The most surprising detail in the image is the cockpit. The J-36 appears to have side-by-side seating. That means two pilots sit next to each other, not one behind the other, which is very rare in fighter jets. This type of cockpit is usually found in bombers or ground-attack aircraft like the Russian Su-34.
The image clearly shows two wide-angle heads-up displays, one for each pilot. This setup could help the pilots handle all the complex systems on board, including controlling the aircraft, targeting weapons, managing electronic warfare, or even flying unmanned drones.
Another feature seen in the photo is the engine design. The aircraft seems to have three air intakes, which likely means it has three engines. Two intakes are under the body, and one is on top. The top one called a dorsal intake, seems to use a special stealth design known as DSI (Diverterless Supersonic Intake).
This design is also used in the F-35 and J-20. A triple-engine setup is very unusual. Most modern jets use two engines. Experts say three engines could give the J-36 more power and allow it to carry heavier loads over longer distances. However, this also means the plane may use more fuel and need more maintenance.
The new image also shows the aircraft with its internal weapons bays open. These are special compartments inside the aircraft that carry weapons while keeping the aircraft’s stealth shape.
The J-36 has one large center weapons bay and two smaller ones on each side. This setup suggests the aircraft can carry a wide variety of weapons, including long-range missiles and guided bombs, without showing them to enemy radar. This feature is important for stealth missions.
The new details show the J-36 is not just a fighter jet. It looks more like a mix between a fighter and a bomber. That would make it a multi-role aircraft, able to strike from long distances, carry heavy weapons, and still fly like a jet fighter. Some experts say this makes it similar to the American B-21 Raider, which is also designed for many types of missions.
There are still many questions about the J-36. We do not yet know if it will have a third crew member, like a flight engineer, to help manage all the systems. The U.S. B-2 bomber was designed with space for a third crew member but never used it. Still, it is possible the J-36 could include such a feature due to the complexity of the aircraft.
Other design features seen in the image include a raised surface behind the dorsal intake, which might be an airbrake, and a pitot tube, which measures airspeed. The landing gear is also visible. It shows the aircraft has tandem-wheeled main landing gear and twin wheels on the front. These details match earlier video clips of the J-36’s test flights in March and April 2025.
Andreas Rupprecht shared the image online but also warned that it could still be fake. He said, “Be skeptical again since recently too many faked images of the J-36 were posted and this one looks almost too good to be true.” Still, the new image fits with China’s pattern of slowly revealing new military technology through carefully timed leaks.
China is not expected to fully rely on the J-36 anytime soon. Its current fleet of 4.5 and 5th-generation jets is still strong. However, if the J-36 continues to develop, it could be a major part of China’s military strategy in the 2030s.
