World’s Heaviest Fighter: China’s J-36 Stealth Jet Enters New Development Phase with Enhanced Second Prototype
Beijing, October 31 - In a bold stride toward sixth-generation air dominance, China has unveiled the second prototype of the J-36, the world's heaviest fighter jet, marking a pivotal advancement in its stealth aircraft program. Dubbed the "ginkgo leaf" for its distinctive tailless delta-wing design, this massive trijet powerhouse, developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, weighs in at an estimated 40 tons, dwarfing even the U.S. F-22 Raptor. Circulating images from late October 2025 reveal an aircraft that's not just bigger but smarter, incorporating iterative refinements that signal rapid progress in China's quest for next-gen stealth fighters. As global tensions simmer in the Indo-Pacific, the J-36's evolution underscores Beijing's unyielding push to reshape aerial warfare, blending hypersonic speeds, supercruise capabilities, and low-observability features into a regional bomber-fighter hybrid that could tip the scales against Western air superiority.
The debut of this enhanced J-36 prototype, just 10 months after the first flew in December 2024, showcases meticulous design tweaks aimed at optimizing performance without compromising its signature stealth profile. Visually striking changes include the engine nozzles, which have shifted from the first model's recessed, YF-23-inspired trough-like exhausts, geared toward superior radar evasion, to protruding, potentially two-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles. This upgrade hints at enhanced maneuverability for a jet that's more tactical bomber than agile dogfighter, enabling precise control during high-speed intercepts or long-range strikes. Equally transformative are the air intakes: the dorsal DSI (diverter less supersonic inlet) remains, but the lower pair now sports full DSI configurations, replacing the earlier caret-like trapezoidal designs. These modifications, as noted by aviation analysts, reduce drag and boost engine efficiency, paving the way for sustained supercruise at Mach 1.5+ without afterburners, a game-changer for extended missions over vast theaters like the South China Sea.
What sets this second J-36 prototype apart is its fusion of cutting-edge technologies that propel China's sixth-generation fighter ambitions into overdrive. The tailless flying-wing architecture, with split ruddervons on the trailing edges for stability, minimizes radar cross-sections while maximizing internal weapons bays for hypersonic missiles and AI-driven munitions. A side-by-side two-seat cockpit suggests advanced networking for manned-unmanned teaming, allowing seamless coordination with drone swarms, a nod to the J-36's multi-role versatility as both heavy stealth fighter and precision strike platform. Experts speculate on adaptive engines and quantum sensors, drawing from AVIC's 2022 Zhuhai Airshow concepts, positioning the J-36 as a direct counter to America's NGAD program. This prototype's emergence, amid unverified flight tests, affirms Chengdu's iterative development ethos, compressing timelines that once took rivals decades.
As the J-36 stealth jet hurtles toward operational reality, its implications ripple across global defense landscapes, challenging U.S. air superiority and igniting an arms race in advanced fighter jets. With potential naval variants for carrier ops and export appeal to allies like Pakistan, China's heavyweight contender isn't just flying high, it's redefining the skies. For enthusiasts tracking military aviation breakthroughs, the J-36's second prototype heralds an era where size, stealth, and speed converge to secure strategic edges.