China’s Tailless, Triple-Engine Fighter Jet Sparks Excitement in Military Aviation

A new video showcasing China’s cutting-edge fighter jet has set the military aviation community abuzz. This sleek, tailless, triple-engine aircraft—referred to by Western analysts as the J-36—appears to be a major leap forward in the world of military aviation.

Though the exact date of the video’s release remains unclear, it surfaced on Chinese social media on Monday. The footage shows the J-36 soaring over a highway near the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group’s factory in Sichuan province, where the jet is believed to have been manufactured. The jet’s unique design and advanced features have quickly garnered attention from both aviation enthusiasts and military analysts.

The J-36 is speculated to be a sixth-generation fighter, integrating the latest in stealth technology, advanced avionics, and cutting-edge engineering. Military aviation expert David Cenciotti, a former Italian Air Force officer, analyzed the six-second video on his website, The Aviationist. He noted the distinctive trijet engine configuration—two engine intakes under the wings and a dorsally-mounted intake behind the cockpit. This unconventional setup may offer significant advantages in thrust and engine redundancy, making the J-36 a formidable contender.

Additionally, Cenciotti pointed out that the jet’s belly appears to feature internal weapons bays, which could potentially house long-range strike missiles, further enhancing its combat capabilities.

The J-36 could propel China into direct competition with the United States in the race to develop sixth-generation fighter jets. Currently, the U.S. military’s fifth-generation jets—the twin-engine F-22 and the single-engine F-35—are considered the global standard for air superiority. However, China is already fielding two fifth-generation models, the J-20 and J-35, although neither has seen combat on the scale of the U.S. jets.

In a recent development, former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Boeing has been awarded a contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter, the F-47. However, the timeline for its deployment remains unclear. The contract, awarded on March 21, focuses on the engineering and manufacturing development phase, with a small number of test aircraft set for evaluation.

While the J-36 has dominated discussions, it’s not the only next-generation fighter in China’s arsenal. Just as images of the J-36 emerged in December, photos of another tailless, twin-engine jet—tentatively referred to as the J-XX or J-50—also surfaced. Though the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has not officially confirmed either aircraft’s existence, military experts believe these developments signal China’s determination to advance rapidly in the sixth-generation fighter race.

The Global Times, a state-run Chinese tabloid, recently quoted Chinese military experts expressing optimism about the progress of these new aircraft. Wang Ya’nan, editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, commented that the images, “if authentic,” suggest that China is making significant strides in next-generation aviation technology.

It’s important to note that bringing a fighter jet from concept to deployment is a lengthy process, often spanning years. China’s J-35, for example, was first unveiled to the public at Airshow China in Zhuhai last November—after more than a decade of development.

As China’s J-36 continues to capture attention, the military aviation world eagerly watches to see how it stacks up against its Western counterparts in the ongoing global arms race for air dominance.