J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter) by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (AVIC): status and timeline

J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)

Give China a crewed next-generation stealth fighter, possibly carrier-capable, that is far harder to detect on radar than today's fifth-generation jets.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

Flight-testing since Dec 2024; fresh flight imagery in June 2026. China has not officially confirmed it.

Updated 16 Jun 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Ongoing flight testing; new imagery

Reported first flight20 Dec 2024Complete.
First public sighting near Shenyang, with a J-16 chase plane26 Dec 2024Complete.
Clear images show lambda wing, vectoring nozzles, cockpitApr 2025Complete.
Photos suggest a second prototype25 Sep 2025Complete.
Ongoing flight testing; new imageryTarget Jun 2026Current milestone.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Jun 2026Ongoing flight testing; new imagery (next)

Current obstacles

No official informationEverything known comes from spotter photos; role, crew size, engines and service date are unconfirmed.
Proving tailless controlTest pilots must show the jet stays controllable at low speed and high angles, the hardest regime for a finless design and for carrier approaches.

Physics limits

Tailless means unstableVertical fins keep a plane pointing into the wind. Remove them and the jet wants to slew sideways; only constant computer corrections with wingtips or thrust keep it straight, and that authority shrinks at low speed.
Stealth fights aerodynamicsRadar-hiding shapes favour flat faces, few edges and internal weapons bays. Those choices add weight and drag and limit how agile and how heavily armed the jet can be.
Hot engines are hard to hideJet exhaust runs hundreds of degrees hot and glows in infrared. Flat nozzles and shielding cut the signature but cost thrust, and long-range infrared sensors keep improving.

How it works

4 parts

Planform

Sharply swept lambda wing

The wing is swept back hard and kinked, blending into a flat body. Few edges and no fins mean radar energy bounces away from the sender.

Wingtips

Pivoting wingtips for yaw

Without a rudder, the wingtips appear to swivel to create drag on one side, turning the nose the way a rudder would.

Nozzles

Vectored exhaust

Flat 2D nozzles can tilt the exhaust to help pitch the jet, and their flat shape also helps hide the hot engine from sensors.

Sensors

Built-in targeting eye

A faceted blister under the nose likely holds an electro-optical sensor, letting the jet find targets without emitting radar.

Spec sheet

Spec	J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)
Engines	2^R (reported)
Vertical tail fins	None (tailless lambda wing)^R (reported)
Exhaust nozzles	2D thrust-vectoring^R (reported)
Air intakes	Diverterless supersonic inlets^R (reported)
Crew	Crewed (bubble canopy)^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Combat aircraft peers

Spec	J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)	Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (AVIC) J-36
Engines	2^R (reported)	3 (two in fuselage, one on top)^R (reported)
Crew	Crewed (bubble canopy)^R (reported)	2, seated side by side^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

3 updates

About Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (AVIC)

The team behind J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (AVIC)

Chinese fighters: J-15, J-16, J-35, J-50

State-owned Chinese fighter maker in Shenyang, part of the AVIC aviation group. It builds the J-15 carrier fighter, the J-16 strike fighter and the J-35 stealth fighter, and is flight-testing a tailless twin-engine jet observers call the J-50.

One of China's two main fighter design houses; Chengdu (J-20, J-36) is the other.
Its tailless J-50 prototype appeared in Dec 2024, days after Chengdu's J-36. China has not confirmed either.
China's oldest aircraft maker (founded 1951 as Factory 112); also makes airliner parts for Western firms such as Boeing.

Company profile →

Founded: 195175 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Subsidiaryof Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Valuation: Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)-owned
Works in: AviationCombat aircraft
Coverage: 1 program · 3 updateslatest 16 Jun 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Boeing (opens boeing.com)Bombardier (opens bombardier.com)

Spec

J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)

Engines

2^R (reported)

Vertical tail fins

None (tailless lambda wing)^R (reported)

Exhaust nozzles

2D thrust-vectoring^R (reported)

Air intakes

Diverterless supersonic inlets^R (reported)

Crew

Crewed (bubble canopy)^R (reported)

Spec

J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (AVIC) J-36

Engines

2^R (reported)

3 (two in fuselage, one on top)^R (reported)

Crew

Crewed (bubble canopy)^R (reported)

2, seated side by side^R (reported)

J-50 (Shenyang sixth-generation fighter)

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Sharply swept lambda wing

Pivoting wingtips for yaw

Vectored exhaust

Built-in targeting eye

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Tue 16 Jun

Wed 16 Apr 2025

Fri 4 Apr 2025

About Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (AVIC)

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Sharply swept lambda wing

Pivoting wingtips for yaw

Vectored exhaust

Built-in targeting eye

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Tue 16 Jun

Wed 16 Apr 2025

Fri 4 Apr 2025

About Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (AVIC)