China's J-36 With Laser Weapon Spotted Near Chengdu as U.S. F-47, F/A-XX, and India's Rafale Compete

Recent sightings and online footage have shown China's sixth-generation fighter aircraft, the J-36 and J-50, in flight. The J-36, reportedly observed near the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in Sichuan, features a tailless, three-engine design, air intakes under the wings, a dorsal intake, and is believed to have internal weapons bays for long-range missiles. Animated depictions indicate the J-36 may be equipped with laser weapons capable of intercepting missiles, and it is sometimes referred to as 'invisible.' There is also speculation about the J-36 having a side-by-side cockpit configuration. The J-50, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, has been seen in flight tests and is described as having a tailless lambda wing, flat 2D thrust vectoring nozzles, DSI intakes, and possibly a tandem cockpit. Both the J-36 and J-50 are cited as sixth-generation fighters, though the Chinese government has not officially confirmed their operational status. The United States is advancing its own sixth-generation fighter programs. President Donald Trump announced the F-47, to be developed by Boeing for the U.S. Air Force, under a contract initially valued at about $20 billion. The F-47 is expected to offer manned or unmanned operation options. The U.S. Navy is developing the F/A-XX, with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman as competitors. The F/A-XX is anticipated to feature a tailless design, advanced stealth, artificial intelligence, manned-unmanned teaming, and may include directed-energy weapons, with initial operational capability expected in the early 2030s. India, meanwhile, continues to operate fourth- or 4.5-generation fighters such as the Rafale and Su-30MKI, as China and the U.S. move toward deploying sixth-generation air combat capabilities.