China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation Reveals J-36 Stealth Jet with Advanced Thrust Vectoring Nozzles
- MM24 News Desk
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's second J-36 heavy tactical jet prototype has emerged with significant design changes, most notably the addition of two-dimensional thrust vectoring exhaust nozzles similar to those on the F-22 Raptor. The new configuration marks a major evolution for China's tailless stealth aircraft program and could enhance maneuverability for the three-engine design.
China's ambitious stealth fighter program has taken a dramatic leap forward with the appearance of a second J-36 prototype featuring advanced thrust vectoring technology that could significantly enhance the aircraft's combat capabilities.
New images reveal the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's updated heavy tactical jet with two-dimensional thrust vectoring exhaust nozzles across its bank of three engines—a major design departure from the first prototype that emerged just eleven months ago. The technological evolution demonstrates China's rapid progress in developing next-generation air combat capabilities that could challenge American air dominance.
The rear-aspect images, circulating on Chinese internet forums and analyzed by The War Zone, provide the clearest view yet of the J-36's new exhaust configuration. The aircraft now features a three-pack of 2D thrust vectoring nozzles strikingly similar to those found on the F-22A Raptor's F119 engines. This represents a significant shift from the first prototype, which had recessed trough-like exhausts reminiscent of Northrop's YF-23 design that competed against the F-22 in the Advanced Tactical Fighter program.
Tyler Rogoway, editor of The War Zone, which first reported on the new configuration, explained the strategic implications of this design change. "The addition of thrust vectoring is a major design departure and clearly points to its advantages outweighing its costs," he noted in his analysis.
"Generally speaking, thrust vectoring provides additional maneuverability throughout different areas of the flight envelope for a tactical jet, including, in many cases, in the post-stall regime. It also allows for better overall controllability and stability, the value of which is magnified on a highly unstable tailless fast jet design."
The technological advancement comes with both benefits and trade-offs. While thrust vectoring provides superior maneuverability and controllability—particularly important for a tailless design like the J-36—it also adds weight and complexity to the aircraft.
Additionally, the new configuration likely carries a low-observable (stealth) penalty from some rear aspects compared to the previous recessed exhaust arrangement. That Chengdu Aircraft Corporation engineers opted for this change suggests they've determined the maneuverability advantages outweigh the stealth compromises for this particular aircraft's intended mission set.
What makes this development particularly intriguing is its timing and context within China's broader military aviation modernization. The J-36's smaller counterpart, known as the J-XDS, also features similar 2D thrust-vectoring capabilities, indicating this technology is becoming standardized across China's next-generation fighter portfolio.
Furthermore, analysts speculate that China's medium stealth fighter, the J-35, might eventually transition from its current serrated round exhausts to similar 2D thrust vectoring configurations, with mockups of such designs already appearing at Chinese arms expos.
The rapid progression from the first J-36 prototype to this significantly revised second aircraft within just eleven months demonstrates remarkable development speed. As The War Zone reported, "With the one-year anniversary of the J-36 emerging from the shadows approaching, it's remarkable just how much we have seen of it and how two prototype/demonstrator aircraft are now in known existence." This accelerated timeline suggests China is pouring substantial resources into advancing its sixth-generation fighter capabilities.
The fundamental question remaining is whether this second aircraft represents an evolutionary step toward production configuration or an experimental testbed for specific technologies. The design changes extend beyond the exhaust system to include new inlets and main landing gear, indicating comprehensive redesign rather than minor tweaks.
The original J-36 prototype's recessed exhaust arrangement offered potential stealth advantages but likely sacrificed maneuverability—a trade-off that apparently proved unacceptable for the aircraft's intended role.
The emergence of two distinct J-36 configurations in under a year mirrors the approach taken by American aerospace companies during the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition, where both YF-22 and YF-23 prototypes explored different design philosophies. That China is pursuing multiple parallel development paths suggests both substantial funding and urgency in fielding advanced air dominance capabilities.
These developments occur against a backdrop of growing Chinese military aviation ambition. As noted in the analysis, the J-36 and J-XDS, "along with a flood of advanced uncrewed combat aircraft and naval aviation developments, mark 2025 as a truly remarkable year for Chinese military aviation, one that is clearly drawing concerns of potential adversaries."
The simultaneous advancement of multiple stealth aircraft programs indicates China is not merely catching up with Western air power but attempting to leapfrog it in certain capability areas.
The J-36's substantial size and three-engine configuration suggest it may be intended as a long-range, high-endurance platform potentially for both air superiority and strike missions. The addition of thrust vectoring could be particularly valuable for such a large aircraft operating at high altitudes or in air combat scenarios where maneuverability provides a decisive advantage. This combination of size, power, and agility would make the J-36 a formidable opponent in potential future conflicts.
As China continues to refine its stealth aircraft designs, the appearance of this second J-36 prototype with advanced thrust vectoring capability signals that Chinese aerospace engineers are systematically addressing the complex trade-offs between stealth, maneuverability, and performance.
While many questions remain about the aircraft's specific capabilities, intended role, and production timeline, the rapid evolution visible in these images demonstrates that China's military aviation industry is progressing at a pace that demands attention from Western defense planners.