(VIDEO) Days After Trump Revealed F-47, China Conducts New Test Flight of J-36 Sixth Gen Fighter Jet

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a striking development that underscores the escalating technological rivalry between the world’s two foremost military powers, China’s sixth-generation stealth fighter—reportedly designated the J-36—has been observed conducting its latest test flight just days after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the F-47, America’s next-generation air dominance platform.

Video clips and high-resolution photographs, widely disseminated on China’s state-linked social media platform Weibo, show the J-36 skimming over the test airstrip of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in Sichuan province.

The Chengdu-based aerospace firm—under the umbrella of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)—has long been the spearhead of Beijing’s most advanced fighter development efforts, previously delivering the now-operational fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon.

The sighting of the J-36—still officially unconfirmed by Beijing—has ignited speculation within global defence circles that China is accelerating its sixth-generation ambitions in a bid to achieve technological parity—or even superiority—over the United States in the contested domain of air dominance.

Defence analysts suggest the latest test flight indicated the aircraft may be undergoing early-stage flight testing, marking a significant milestone in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)’s push for strategic aerospace supremacy by the early 2030s.

Photographic evidence reveals a sleek, delta-winged airframe with design hallmarks that emphasize radar-evading geometry, high maneuverability, and sustained supersonic capabilities.

One image captures the aircraft executing a dramatic steep-angle climb from the rear—a maneuver indicative of powerful thrust-to-weight ratio and control surface authority—while another shows the jet cruising in level flight with its landing gear extended, likely during post-takeoff evaluations.

Both visuals have sparked fervent analysis among aerospace experts and military observers.

According to leaked intelligence, the J-36 reportedly made its maiden flight on 26 December 2024, a date now seen as a pivotal moment in the evolution of China’s strategic airpower.

Classified as a heavy multi-role fighter, the J-36 is expected to fulfil a broad spectrum of missions—from deep strike and maritime interdiction to air superiority and loyal wingman teaming—placing it at the core of China’s future force projection architecture.

Technical projections suggest the J-36 could attain maximum speeds approaching 2,900 km/h at high altitude (approximately 11,500 meters), with supercruise capability sustained at around 2,100 to 2,200 km/h—an aerodynamic feat achievable only by a select few airframes globally.

With an operational ceiling reportedly in the range of 20,000 to 21,000 meters, the J-36 could outperform current fifth-generation platforms in vertical engagement envelopes and high-altitude standoff operations.

Its combat payload is estimated between 10 and 13 tonnes, potentially including hypersonic missiles, advanced anti-ship munitions, precision-guided bombs, and electronic warfare pods.

What sets the J-36 apart, however, is its integration of next-generation avionics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Defence sources indicate the aircraft will feature AI-driven sensor fusion, predictive threat modeling, and automated battle management, enabling it to operate seamlessly alongside unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

This manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) approach mirrors evolving global doctrine and is expected to play a decisive role in future multi-domain operations.

With these emerging capabilities, the J-36 positions itself not only as China’s answer to America’s F-47, but also as a peer competitor to Western sixth-generation programs including the U.S. Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) F-47 initiative, the UK-Japan-Italy-led Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

The timing of the J-36’s emergence is no coincidence.

Just days earlier, Donald Trump announced that Boeing had secured a US$20 billion (RM88 billion) contract to lead the development of the F-47, the United States’ own sixth-generation air superiority platform.

According to Trump, each F-47 unit is expected to cost more than US$300 million (RM1.3 billion) once mass production commences—making it one of the most expensive combat aircraft in history.

Speaking at the launch, Trump disclosed that a classified experimental version of the F-47 had been flying for nearly five years in deep secrecy.

“This aircraft has already undergone extensive classified flight testing. We are confident its capabilities surpass those of any aircraft in the world,”
he declared.

He further highlighted the F-47’s unprecedented interoperability with autonomous systems, stating:

“This fighter will not fly alone. It will operate with as many drones as needed. It’s a revolutionary technology—flying with a vast swarm of drones, something no other aircraft today can match.”

This philosophy of distributed lethality and unmanned integration has gained prominence, particularly in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where drone warfare has fundamentally altered the calculus of long-range strike and air defence penetration.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed the former president’s sentiments, hailing the F-47 as a paradigm shift in aerial warfare:

“It will fly faster, maneuver more aggressively, and defeat any adversary who dares challenge us. Air superiority is not assumed—it is earned through meticulous investment, continuous innovation, and the unmatched ingenuity of the American people.”

The F-47, once operational, will serve as the successor to the F-22 Raptor, the stealth air superiority fighter developed by Lockheed Martin, which currently anchors the U.S. Air Force’s fifth-generation fleet.

In contrast, the J-36 is widely viewed as the platform that will eventually replace or complement the J-20, extending China’s aerial dominance ambitions deeper into the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The dawn of sixth-generation air combat is no longer speculative—it is taking flight. As both Washington and Beijing race to define the future of airpower, the skies above the 2030s battlefield will be shaped not just by engineering, but by geo-strategic resolve and technological vision.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA