| J-50 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Shenyang Aircraft Corporation |
| Status | Flight testing |
| Number built | 1 confirmed |
| History | |
| First flight | Unknown, first publicly observed on 26 December 2024 |
TheShenyang J-50,[1][2]J-XD,[3] orJ-XDS,[4] is a temporary designation given by military analysts and defense media to atwinjettailless lambda wing aircraft under development by theShenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). The aircraft was observed in flight testing inShenyang,Liaoning,China in December 2024, which was tentatively named Shenyang J-XD or Shenyang J-50 by analysts, given the limited available information.[1][2][3]
In 2018,Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) reportedly developed prototypes for the next-generation aircraft.[5] Intelligence and rumors indicated the Chinese designs would use tailless flying wing or flying arrowhead configuration that can provide greater broadband stealth characteristics compared to the previous generation of fighters, new propulsion technologies, improved sensors allowing the aircraft to operate alongside unmanned teaming aircraft orunmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), etc.[6]
In September 2022,United States Air Force (USAF) GeneralMark D. Kelly, head of theAir Combat Command (ACC) suggested China was on track with its six-generation fighter program, and he believed the Chinese design uses a 'system of systems' approach like the United States, which allows for "exponential" reductions in stealth signature and improvements in processing power and sensing.[5][7]
On 26 December 2024, a new Shenyang prototype aircraft, believed to be part of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter program, was spotted nearShenyang Aircraft Corporation's facilities. The reveal coincided with the spotting of theChengdu J-36 from its sister company, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.[8] Unconfirmed reports suggested the Shenyang fighter made its maiden flight on 20 December 2024. The Shenyang aircraft prototype seemed to be smaller than the Chengdu one. It was trailed by aShenyang J-16 strike fighter as the chase plane.[9][10][11]
The Shenyang prototype fighter features a cranked arrow configuration with sharply swept lambda wings with droopped wing tips, two ventral intakes withdiverterless supersonic inlet (DSI), possibly foldingempennage, and twin-engine bays.[3][9][12] The medium size of the aircraft was speculated to be more suitable for operations on aircraft carriers.[13] The cockpit canopy was not visible from any available footage of the aircraft, leading to diverging theories on it being a crewed,[11] uncrewed,[8] or optionally crewed aircraft.[9]
A photo that appeared towards the end of January 2025 suggested the plane has swivelable wingtips which could be used as control surfaces.[4] There was no sign of folding control surfaces and while the photo was not clear enough to make out a canopy there was a hump in the area where one would be expected.[4]