China accelerates development of sixth-generation fighters J-36 & J-50 ahead of US Next-Gen Air Dominance.

A U.S. Department of War report released in December 2025 states that China conducted initial flight testing of two distinct sixth-generation fighter prototypes in December 2024. The disclosure suggests Beijing is pursuing parallel development paths to accelerate advanced air combat capabilities, including manned and uncrewed teaming.

China has quietly advanced its next-generation combat aviation efforts, according to a U.S. Department of War report published in December 2025, which confirms that two separate sixth-generation fighter aircraft prototypes completed their first flight tests late last year. The aircraft, referred to in Western defense analysis as the J-36 and J-50, are described as parallel development programs intended to cover a wide spectrum of missions, from air superiority and precision strike to coordinating uncrewed aerial systems in contested airspace.
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Side-by-side comparison: China’s sixth-generation fighter prototypes – the Chengdu J-36 (left) optimized for long-range air superiority, and the Shenyang J-50 (right) designed for future carrier-based operations. (Picture source: Social Networks)

The U.S. report emphasizes that China is no longer operating in the conceptual or design phase; these aircraft are part of active flight-test programs backed by the country’s top-tier aerospace industry. Operational capability for both platforms is projected to emerge by the mid-2030s, placing them on a timeline comparable to the U.S. Air Force’s NGAD and the Navy’s F/A-XX initiatives.

Based on Army Recognition’s independent analysis of open‑source intelligence, including released flight test videos, satellite imagery, industrial site activity, and defense aviation tracking data, the two aircraft referenced in the U.S. report are assessed to be the Chengdu J‑36 and the Shenyang J‑50. These two platforms represent parallel sixth‑generation development paths pursued by China’s leading combat aircraft manufacturers, reflecting a deliberate strategy to field both land‑based and carrier‑capable next‑generation fighters.

Throughout 2025, multiple video recordings circulated on Chinese social media platforms and aviation forums have shown two different stealth aircraft conducting taxi tests, takeoffs, and early maneuvering flights at geographically separate test facilities. Army Recognition analysts geolocated these videos to known experimental airfields associated with Chengdu Aircraft Corporation in western China and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in northeastern coastal regions. Subsequent satellite imagery confirmed increased ground support activity, specialized instrumentation aircraft, and new hardened hangars consistent with early sixth‑generation flight test programs.

The Chengdu J-36 is China’s land-based sixth-generation fighter prototype, featuring a tailless flying wing design, deep stealth shaping, and long-range multi-role capabilities. (Picture source: China Social Network)

The J‑36, attributed to Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, is widely assessed as China’s primary sixth‑generation air superiority platform and a long‑term successor to the J‑20. Observed airframe characteristics include a tailless configuration, a broad delta- or diamond-shaped wing, a deeply blended fuselage, and fully internalized weapons bays, all optimized for extremely low radar observability. The absence of vertical stabilizers suggests heavy reliance on advanced flight control software and thrust vectoring, pointing toward a highly software‑driven aircraft architecture. Analysts assess that the J‑36 is designed for long‑range operations, enabling deep penetration into contested airspace while acting as a central node for sensor fusion, electronic warfare coordination, and command of loyal wingman uncrewed combat aerial vehicles.

Flight footage analyzed by Army Recognition shows the J‑36 executing wide‑radius turns and stable high‑speed passes, consistent with early envelope expansion testing rather than mere technology demonstration. The aircraft’s size relative to known chase planes suggests significant internal fuel capacity, reinforcing assessments that endurance and range are central to its mission profile. The J‑36 is expected to integrate artificial–intelligence–assisted decision–making tools, advanced multispectral sensors, and secure data links that can network with satellites, ground‑based systems, naval assets, and uncrewed platforms.

J-50: China’s next-generation stealth fighter for carrier deployment, featuring AI-enabled systems and manned-unmanned teaming architecture for high-threat maritime environments. (Picture source: China Social Network)

Running in parallel, the J‑50, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, reflects a different operational emphasis. Video footage and satellite imagery place the aircraft at coastal test ranges, with design features suggesting a focus on naval aviation. Analysts observe a more compact airframe, a twin‑engine layout, and possible structural adaptations for carrier operations, including reinforced landing gear and wing-folding mechanisms. The J‑50 is widely assessed as China’s future carrier‑based sixth‑generation fighter, intended to operate from the PLA Navy’s new generation of catapult‑equipped aircraft carriers, including the Type 003 Fujian and follow‑on vessels.

The decision to pursue two separate sixth‑generation fighters simultaneously highlights a major shift in Chinese military aviation strategy. Rather than a single universal platform, Beijing appears intent on fielding mission‑optimized aircraft tailored for land‑based air dominance and maritime power projection. This approach mirrors, and in some respects anticipates, the U.S. division between Air Force and Navy sixth‑generation programs, but with the notable distinction that China has already moved both designs into visible flight testing.

These developments contrast sharply with the current status of U.S. sixth‑generation programs. According to the Congressional Research Service report IF12805, published on December 20, 2025, the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program remains in the engineering and manufacturing development phase. NGAD is not a single aircraft but a family of systems centered on a crewed sixth‑generation fighter supported by multiple Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). These unmanned platforms are designed to conduct missions such as electronic warfare, missile carriage, ISR, and decoy operations under the control of the manned NGAD aircraft.

The U.S. Department of War confirms that the U.S. Air Force awarded a full‑scale development contract for NGAD in 2023 and that at least one prototype may have flown in classified conditions. However, no publicly acknowledged flight tests have been disclosed, and NGAD remains largely shielded from public scrutiny. The Air Force plans for NGAD to replace the F‑22 Raptor in the early 2030s, with initial operational capability targeted around 2030 or shortly thereafter. Key technologies cited by CRS include adaptive‑cycle engines, modular open‑systems architecture, AI‑enabled battle management, and advanced multi‑domain networking.

In parallel, the U.S. Navy’s F/A‑XX program represents the maritime component of U.S. sixth‑generation airpower, intended to replace the F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet and EA‑18G Growler in carrier air wings during the 2030s. Unlike NGAD, F/A‑XX has faced repeated funding uncertainty and shifting Pentagon priorities. Recent reporting indicates that after proposed budget reductions, Congress restored approximately $1.4 billion in funding for F/A‑XX, underscoring legislative concern over maintaining carrier‑based air superiority in the Indo‑Pacific.

Open‑source reporting indicates that industry competition for F/A‑XX has narrowed primarily to Boeing and Northrop Grumman, with Lockheed Martin reportedly exiting the program earlier in 2025. Navy leadership has emphasized that F/A‑XX must deliver significantly greater range than current carrier fighters, enhanced survivability against advanced integrated air defense systems, and deep integration with uncrewed aircraft and naval combat networks. Expected features include advanced stealth shaping, AI‑assisted mission management, large internal payload capacity, and seamless coordination with assets such as the MQ‑25 Stingray and future carrier‑based UCAVs.

Despite these ambitions, F/A‑XX remains in the concept refinement and early design phase, with no confirmed flight demonstrators and a projected operational timeline extending into the mid‑2030s. Senior Navy officials have acknowledged that sustaining two parallel sixth‑generation fighter programs alongside NGAD places strain on the U.S. defense industrial base, but argue that abandoning F/A‑XX would leave carrier strike groups increasingly vulnerable to China’s expanding anti‑access and naval aviation capabilities.

When viewed collectively, the contrast is striking. China has moved two sixth‑generation fighter designs into visible flight testing, supported by a centralized industrial model that emphasizes rapid prototyping and iterative testing. The United States, by contrast, is pursuing a more complex and modular approach centered on software adaptability, autonomous teaming, and long‑term technological flexibility, but at the cost of slower public progress and extended development timelines.

The December 2025 Department of War report and the CRS analysis converge on a critical conclusion: the traditional U.S. assumption of uncontested leadership in combat aircraft development can no longer be taken for granted. While U.S. sixth‑generation systems may ultimately surpass Chinese designs in integration and adaptability, China’s head start in flight testing and its dual‑track development strategy represent a tangible strategic advantage.

As both nations race toward operational deployment in the 2030s, the outcome will shape not only future air combat but the broader balance of power in the Indo‑Pacific. The sixth‑generation fighter race is no longer theoretical. It is unfolding in real time, across test ranges in China and classified development facilities in the United States, with profound implications for deterrence, escalation control, and the future character of air warfare.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.