A possible leakage of images in China may have revealed the sixth-generation stealth hunter aircraft J-XDS, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC).
Also informally called the J-50, the aircraft stands out with its tail-free design, vector-controlled thrust and aerodynamic profile, as well as moving wing tips that contribute to stability. Although the authenticity of the images has not yet been confirmed, they so far show unseen details of the design and appear to be consistent with previous registrations.
The new images show clear features of the aircraft, such as diamond-shaped nose with integrated canopy, trapezoidal air intake with DSI system, and F-22-like exhaust with sagged edges to reduce the radar signature. It can also be identified as a single seat, along with the presence of an electro-optic target system (EOTS) and side sections with preliminary undefined function. Small openings on the back suggest auxiliary doors or sensors.
J-XDS was introduced along with the super-heavy J-36 model, both revealed towards the end of 2024, but so far the most detailed images were of the latter. If the J-XDS images are legitimate, they indicate significant advances in the China’s Stealth hunter program, which may be closer to production than initially expected.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: x @zhao_dashuai | This content is made with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
New pictures of the 6th generation fighter from China’s SAC.
The tailless configuration gives it all-aspect stealth, meaning it’s stealthy from all angles.
The edges are very long with minimal small protrusions and control surfaces like horizontal stabilizers.
This minimizes… pic.twitter.com/egLX7cy2Dg
— Zhao DaShuai Northeast Continuing Study🇨🇳 (@zhao_dashuai) 25. september 2025