New Delhi: China has stirred global military circles by releasing striking photographs of what it claims is the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet, a massive, triple-engine stealth aircraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.
The images, showing the jet on the ground with engines glowing before takeoff, highlight its unique tailless design, twin main landing gear, and enormous size – described as the largest fighter ever built.
Dubbed J-36 or J-XX in Western analyses, the aircraft features three engines – a larger central one flanked by two smaller units – promising a superior thrust-to-weight ratio and fuel efficiency.
Experts estimate its unrefueled range exceeds 8,000 km, enabling strikes beyond 4,000 km and long-duration missions across vast oceans, like the Pacific. The design incorporates advanced adaptive-cycle engine technology, once pursued by the US for its F-35 upgrades but later shelved due to costs.
Military observers note that China’s engine capabilities now rival the American F135 powering the F-35, raising questions about the balance of air power in the Indo-Pacific region. The jet is expected to enter service in the early 2030s, potentially years ahead of the United States’ planned sixth-generation fighter, the F-47.
While Beijing has not officially confirmed the aircraft’s designation or full specifications, the photographs coincide with an important turning point in its rapid aviation modernisation.
Analysts view this development as a bold statement of technological ambition, intensifying the global race for next-generation air dominance and posing fresh challenges to established powers like the United States.