This Could Be Our Best View Yet Of China's J-36 Very Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet
A new image appearing to show China's 'J-36' 6th generation tactical jet parked on the ground has emerged online. If legitimate, this would be the best front view of the aircraft to date, notably providing clear proof of the canopy design and further confirmation of a side-by-side seating arrangement. What looks to be three open ventral weapons bays, along with nearby personnel, underscore the design's large size — something of a hybrid between a very heavy fighter and a tactical bomber. You can read more about what is already known about the J-36, as well as the second of China's 6th generation jets, referred to variously as the J-XDS or J-50, in this past in-depth feature.
It is immediately worth noting that there are some visual anomalies in the image in question, which is seen at the top of this story and in various parts below, and was clearly taken with a long lens at a distance, low over the ground. Most significantly, areas around the rear end of the aircraft and its dorsal inlet look as though they may have been 'smudged' or 'cloned out' to some degree. This 'missing area' behind the dorsal inlet could also just be glare from a lighter-colored section of the aircraft camouflage paint scheme, or some combination of the two, but it is hard to say definitively. The main gear area — especially the right side of the image) appears to be manipulated or there is something placed there in the shadows. The image is also a picture taken of another picture on a computer monitor, which could cause some visual distortions. In addition, many phone cameras now produce images that are 'enhanced' by default.
At the same time, overall, the core image does look legitimate. In addition, the background aligns with an area around an extended-width shelter, and especially the distinctive white slatted jet-blast barrier built behind it. The shelter first appeared at the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's main plant in the Chinese city of the same name last December. That was when the J-36, together with the J-XDS/J-50, first broke cover. Chengdu is understood to be the developer of the J-36, and the aircraft been observed flying from there on multiple occasions in the past six months. Another secure hangar on the main ramp appears to have been built to support the program, as well.
If the image is indeed real, it would fully put to rest the question of whether or not the J-36 has at least a two-seat side-by-side cockpit configuration akin to the U.S.-made F-111 or the Soviet-designed Su-34. The green-tinted reflections from two separate heads-up displays (HUDs) are plainly visible, as seen below. TWZ has previously noted that a crew of two seems most likely to meet the demands of the jet's expected mission sets, as you can read more about more in this past feature.
Also, perhaps of the highest interest at this stage, is the very strong evidence, based on the open doors that are visible, of the presence of two smaller weapons bays that flank the jet's large ventral weapons bay. There does not appear to be any confusion between those bay doors and the ones for the aircraft's landing gear. Previous underside views of the J-36 have shown large, molded, outward-hinging doors for the aircraft's large tandem-wheel main landing gear, as well as two smaller doors for the nose gear bay.
The possibility of additional weapons bays within the J-36's fuselage to either side of the main bay has been raised in the past, but there has been no clear evidence of that in the past. TWZ has previously highlighted the significant internal volume, overall, that the J-36 clearly has, and the implications thereof, writing:
'The semi-blended ventral central fuselage area has some similarities with the J-20, notably its weapons bay configuration. While the aircraft clearly has a very large internal volume, putting a bit of a bias on fuel fraction over magazine depth would be a good assumption. A weapons bay somewhat longer, but far deeper than that found on the J-20 would provide ample space for multiple smaller stores and at least a couple of very large ones. A rotary weapons rack seems questionable, but if it is possible, it would only be advantageous for certain weapons loadouts featuring numerous, smaller munitions. Additional side bays for air-to-air weaponry, as shown by many fan art depictions, may be possible, although there is no clear evidence of them at this time.'
The two auxiliary bays would be especially useful for air-to-air missiles and smaller guided air-to-surface weapons, which would allow the cavernous central bay to be reserved for larger loads, including outsized standoff weapons. Before this image, there was only speculation and fleeting evidence that these bays might exist, but now it seems quite likely they do. You can also see these bay doors swing outward, precluding them from being related to the aircraft's main landing gear.
In addition, the new head-on image offers another look at the large aperture windows, typically associated with electro-optical/infrared sensors, on either side of the J-36's nose. We also get an additional view of the lower trapezoidal air inlets on either side of J-36's cockpit, as well as the dorsal inlet, which are linked to the aircraft's unique triple-engine configuration. The lower inlets are broadly similar in shape to those found on the U.S. F-22 Raptor stealth fighter.
Otherwise, as noted, the view in the newly emerged image underscores the overall size of the J-36, which is itself a very unusual feature of the design. The ground personnel visible provide an additional sense of scale that we've not had previously. China is known to have been pursuing a 'regional bomber' of sorts, sometimes referred to as the JH-XX, at least in the past. It remains unclear whether or not the J-36 is meant to fulfill the JH-XX requirements in any way, or blend them together in some part with a next-generation heavy fighter role.
As TWZ previously wrote in our deep-dive feature into what is known about the J-36, and, to a lesser extent, the J-XDS/J-50:
'Similar to the 6th generation definition issue, putting an aircraft like this into a single bucket is challenging just as an observational exercise, and the reality of how China views it could reflect that. Definitively declaring any new highly advanced platform a 'bomber' in 2025 is also an uninformed simplification or just a casual moniker. Just as the B-21 is a multi-role platform, the JH-XX, and even the H-20, would be as well, with the latter's less traditional capabilities possibly expanding more slowly over time. While fine to use casually, the term 'bomber' is now a traditional carry-over that is unrepresentative of what any new long-range, high-end combat aircraft will be capable of.'
The new image of the J-36 is the latest in a steady stream of increasingly more interesting visuals of that aircraft, as well as the J-XDS/J-50, which continue to offer more and more insights into both designs. Just in the past week, we had already gotten our first real head-on look at the J-36. This all follows typical trends with regard to 'leaked' imagery of new Chinese aircraft and other military assets, and as we stated in our original analysis, we would likely get an image like this by Summer. More detailed images, as well as one from the rear aspects will surely come.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com
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