PLA releases first official footage of the J-36, calling it the 'Little Six'

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (AVIC)/J-36

A four-minute PLA video about the Y-20 tanker briefly showed the tailless jet in a climbing turn, with a pilot referring to refuelling the 'Little Six'. It was the first implicit official acknowledgement of China's sixth-generation fighter after 18 months of silence.

• Published 28 June 2026 by China Military Bugle, the PLA's official media account.
• 'Little Six' (Xiao Liu) points to the sixth-generation jet.
• Three to four prototypes had been spotted by then.