China’s New J-50

 China’s Tailless J-XDS 6th Generation Fighter  

The images, if authentic, provide us with by far the clearest view of the J-XDS and answer at least one important question. What could be a major leak out of China features by far the clearest pictures yet of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation’s (SAC) J-XDS, also referred to unofficially as the J-50. This aircraft is a heavy sixth-generation stealth fighter design that features no tails, thrust vectoring, and a very sleek profile. It also has unique features, in particular its swiveling wingtip control surfaces. Following are the important points:-

The latest images, unverified but consistent with prior leaks, omit the earlier nose data boom, hinting at a new test phase.

Fresh close-ups of China’s tailless J-50 (J-XDS) prototype reveal key sixth-gen traits: a broad, diamond-shaped nose, diverterless intakes, F-22-style thrust-vectoring nozzles with serration, and striking swiveling wingtips likely aiding low-speed control.

Paired with Chengdu’s larger J-36, the J-50 suggests a two-track PLAAF approach. If flight testing continues apace, Beijing could field an operational sixth-gen system around 2030, pressuring US F-47 NGAD timelines.

A single-seat cockpit, blended canopy, EO/targeting sensor under the fuselage, and possible DAS apertures also appear.

Up until recently, we have gotten mostly underside and silhouette views of this aircraft. Meanwhile, its super-heavy counterpart, commonly referred to as the J-36, which broke cover on the same days as the J-XDS back in December 2024, has been seen in much higher detail. One shot in particular of that aircraft was similar to this one, taken directly into the airfield where it is produced and based for flight testing. What may be the clearest imagery so far of China’s tailless 6th-generation fighter, offering fresh insight into Beijing’s ambitions for its sixth-generation fleet. The jet, known as the J-XDS and sometimes referred to as the J-50, is believed to be a Shenyang Aircraft Corporation design. The photographs, if genuine, confirm several long-suspected features of the aircraft which will directly compete with the US’ NGAD design. While these images could very well be a fabrication, they appear to match very closely with other, less detailed views we have seen of this aircraft. As it sits now, we have to take them as unconfirmed, but there are no indications outright that they are not authentic. The only discrepancy we could find between these new images and past ones is the lack of an air data boom on the jet’s nose. But after further review of other lower-quality imagery of this aircraft from very recently, the boom appears to have been removed. This could also be a second airframe that is now in flight test that is not equipped with one, which is not uncommon for the early development phase of air combat aircraft. 

Among those features are a broad, diamond-shaped noise, a diverterless supersonic intake design and F-22-style thrust-vectoring nozzles with serrated edges designed to minimize radar detection. Most striking, however, is the absence of vertical tails and the presence of swiveling wingtips, an unusual control system which could potentially have been designed to help stabilize the aircraft at low speeds. It’s also worth noting that we still do not know if these are technology demonstrators or more production representative designs. Considering the speed at which China is moving in terms of air combat systems development, it wouldn’t be surprising if the latter were true. The images, which appeared on X are still unverified, but the design matches earlier, lower-quality shots of the same airframe which also appeared on social media. One notable difference, however, is the absence of a nose-mounted air data boom that was seen in previous test flights. These fresh images provide a new, detailed look at the sides of this exotic aircraft. Details that are very visible include its F-22-like 2D thrust vectoring exhausts, which include fine serrated edges around the exhaust housing, a common detail on stealth fighter aircraft.

An instrument designed to collect precise information about airspeed, angle of attack and more during test flights, may have been removed as a result of the aircraft moving into new testing stages. It could, therefore, indicate that the aircraft is rapidly moving through the testing process and could be preparing for deployment. Its very long diamond-shaped nose which features a deeply blended canopy is also very apparent in the images. The aircraft’s intakes are trapezoidal and feature a diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) arrangement. While there is no confirmed public source indicating a firm entry-into-service (EIS) date for the J-50, analysts speculate that China is aggressively pursuing the development of the jet with the intention of beating the US to be the first to field a sixth-generation fighter. Some speculate that China may aim to deploy the J-50, or variants, around 2030. And, of course, the aircraft’s trademark swiveling wingtips, which would help to keep the inherently very unstable tailless aircraft pointed in the right direction, especially during slow flight and hard maneuvering, are seen deflected downward. While it remains unclear whether the J-XDS seen in the recent images is a demonstrator or a production-representative prototype, China’s recent pace of development makes the latter plausible, and arguably, likely. The jet was first seen in late 2024 alongside the larger, twin-engine J-36, which has since been photographed in greater detail.

Based on these photos, assuming they are not fabricated, the aircraft is conclusively operated by a single pilot, a detail which has remained unclear until now. The electro-optical target system (EOTS) enclosure is also visible under the nose, as are the aircraft’s side bay-like features which still remain something of a mystery due to their small size. Small bulges in the profile of the aircraft’s spine are seen behind the cockpit. It is not clear what this would be for, but they do look like small auxiliary inlet doors that are open. If they were fixed bumps, they would likely house apertures for a distributed aperture system (DAS) or other sensor/communications aperture. Together with the larger J-36, reportedly a delta-wing fighter-bomber design with its own stealth-optimized, tailless configuration, the J-50 represents Beijing’s two-track approach to developing its sixth-generation fleet. Chengdu and Shenyang, the country’s two major design houses, appear to be developing two parallel solutions, much in the same way that the US is pursuing separate concepts for the Air Force and Navy. The J-36, with its heavy delta wing and long-range ability, appears to be built for deep strike and stand-off roles, potentially operating alongside stealth bombers. The smaller and more agile J-50, meanwhile, could well serve as a tactical platform that is capable of surviving in strongly-defended environments by leveraging its advanced stealth and sensor fusion technology.

If both programs mature, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) could eventually field a complementary family of next-generation aircraft rather than a single aircraft. The timing matters, too. Reports suggest that both jets first flew in December 2024. Since then, sightings have only multiplied, with recent video showing the J-50 in flight and lowering its landing gear. Even with limited public specifications, its siveling wingtips, thrust-vectoring engines and electro-optical targeting sensors represent a significant leap in China’s aerial abilities. The new images also provide valuable side and forward views of the long-rumoured aircraft, revealing what looks to be a blended canopy design. The single-seat configuration could finally settle speculation and debate over whether this will be a two-seater aircraft designed for long missions. Additionally, an electro-optical targeting system can be seen underneath the fuselage, along with small side bays. It remains unclear exactly what the purpose of those side bays is, however. Visible bulges behind the cockpit also hint at the possibility of embedded apertures for a distributed aperture system (DAS).

For Washington and its allies, the progress should serve as a warning that competing sixth-generation programs must not experience any further delays. The US Air Force aims to fly its F-47 NGAD prototype by 2028, with the Navy’s F/A-XX expected to follow sometime in the 2030s. But China’s ability to put multiple sixth-generation prototypes into the air within such a compressed timeframe raises the possibility that the PLAAF could well beat the US Air Force to become the first to field an operational sixth-generation system. Overall, the images are quite remarkable and give us a better idea of what this aircraft actually looks like from a side view in good light. We’ll have to see if the photos end up proving to show the real McCoy, but for now they are a welcome revelation for all concerned.