Front view of Chinese tailless stealth aircraft hints at long-range strike role

A photograph of Chengdu’s new, in-development tailless stealth combat aircraft shows that the prototype has side-by-side seating for the flight crew. The configuration indicates that the aircraft is being developed as a long-range fighter-bomber.

The image of the aircraft emerged on Chinese social media in late May. Seemingly photographed at long range, the aircraft appeared to be parked next to a blast wall at an undisclosed location. The doors to the aircraft’s internal weapons bay were open.

Image caption: Chengdu stealth aircraft programme

Beyond showing the side-by-side arrangement for the pilot and the copilot (or weapons system officer), the photograph provides additional details about the design of the three-engine aircraft, which has been tentatively designated as the ‘J-36’ (based on a serial number previously seen on the prototype).

This includes the trapezoidal shape of the aircraft’s dorsal engine intake and the presence of a Diverterless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) bump at this intake to control airflow into the engine. At the same time, the aircraft’s engine intakes on the side of the airframe appear not to have DSIs. Instead, the caret-shaped inlets are similar to the splitter plate-type inlets of the fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

The side intake ducts are almost certainly serpentine as they lead to the engine to shield the engine compressor face from radar waves and reduce the aircraft’s radar cross-section, Janes assesses.

The aircraft also appears to have a datalink antenna outside the caret-shaped engine inlet on the side.

The photograph also reveals that the aircraft has sensor ports for the electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) on both leading edges of the wing where it meets the body of the aircraft. An EOTS system, by design, is intended to provide the aircrew with a precision air-to-air and air-to-surface targeting capability.

Visual anomalies of J-36

Unusually, the J-36 is not painted in the yellow-green primer paint that is associated with Chinese prototype aircraft. Instead, the prototype is painted in a muted blue-grey splinter-type camouflage scheme.

This may be an effort by Chengdu to suggest that the J-36 is ready for production. However, the platform could require at least a decade of development and testing before it can enter service, Janes assesses. The J-36 may have conducted its first flight in 2022–23. It was revealed to the public in December 2024 while still in prototype form.

Beijing’s previous stealth aircraft programmes, the FC-31/J-35 and the J-20, required nearly a decade to progress from prototype to production. As the J-36 is a more complicated programme, due to its unconventional three-engine configuration and flight controls, the programme could require between 12 and 15 years to reach the production stage.

While the photograph of the J-36 is noteworthy for presenting a hitherto unseen perspective of the aircraft, the image contains some visual anomalies. These include the misshapen form of the port side front landing wheel and a slight distortion to the shape of the dorsal engine intake. The aircraft’s camouflage colour scheme is also distorted.

However, as the photograph appears to have been taken using a mobile phone camera positioned at long range, it is possible that the distortions may be the result of image quality degradation stemming from the use of digital zoom.

For more information on this aircraft, please see New imagery reveals additional details of China's tailless aircraft and Two Chinese stealth aircraft programmes emerge unexpectedly.

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