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The '''Shenyang J-50'''<ref name="at_250102"/><ref name="pop_250107"/> or '''J-XD'''<ref name="janes"/> is a temporary designation given by military analysts and defense media to a ] ] lambda wing aircraft under development by the ] (SAC). The aircraft was observed in flight testing in ], ], ] in December 2024, which was tentatively named Shenyang J-XD or Shenyang J-50 by analysts, but the true destination was unknown.<ref name="janes">{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/update-two-chinese-stealth-aircraft-programmes-emerge-unexpectedly |title=Update: Two Chinese stealth aircraft programmes emerge unexpectedly |website=Janes |date=30 December 2024 |first=Akhil |last=Kadidal }}</ref><ref name="at_250102">{{cite web |last1=Honrada |first1=Gabriel |date=2 January 2025 |title=China's J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority |url=https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/chinas-j-36-stealth-fighter-another-blow-to-us-air-superiority/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Asia Times}}</ref><ref name="pop_250107">{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a63360888/china-sixth-gen-fighters/ |title=Two New Chinese Sixth-Gen Fighter Jets Have Emerged in a Direct Challenge to U.S. Air Superiority |website=Popular Mechanics |date=7 January 2025 |first=Sébastien |last=Roblin }}</ref> |
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The '''Shenyang J-50'''<ref name="at_250102"/><ref name="pop_250107"/> or '''J-XD'''<ref name="janes"/> is a temporary designation given by military analysts and defense media to a ] ] lambda wing aircraft under development by the ] (SAC). The aircraft was observed in flight testing in ], ], ] in December 2024, which was tentatively named Shenyang J-XD or Shenyang J-50 by analysts, but the true destination was unknown.<ref name="at_250102">{{cite web |last1=Honrada |first1=Gabriel |date=2 January 2025 |title=China's J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority |url=https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/chinas-j-36-stealth-fighter-another-blow-to-us-air-superiority/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Asia Times}}</ref><ref name="pop_250107">{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a63360888/china-sixth-gen-fighters/ |title=Two New Chinese Sixth-Gen Fighter Jets Have Emerged in a Direct Challenge to U.S. Air Superiority |website=Popular Mechanics |date=7 January 2025 |first=Sébastien |last=Roblin }}</ref><ref name="janes">{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/update-two-chinese-stealth-aircraft-programmes-emerge-unexpectedly |title=Update: Two Chinese stealth aircraft programmes emerge unexpectedly |website=Janes |date=30 December 2024 |first=Akhil |last=Kadidal }}</ref> |
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==History== |
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==History== |
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In September 2022, ] (USAF) General ], head of the ] (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.<ref name="twz_220928">{{cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=28 September 2022 |title=China Is Working On Its Own Sixth-Generation Fighter Program: Official |url=https://www.twz.com/china-is-working-on-its-own-sixth-generation-fighter-program-official |website=The War Zone |access-date=27 December 2024 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226214415/https://www.twz.com/china-is-working-on-its-own-sixth-generation-fighter-program-official |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Arthur |first=Gordon |date=24 June 2024 |title=When will China have a sixth-gen fighter jet? |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/06/24/when-will-china-have-a-sixth-gen-fighter-jet/ |website=]}}</ref> |
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In September 2022, ] (USAF) General ], head of the ] (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.<ref name="twz_220928">{{cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=28 September 2022 |title=China Is Working On Its Own Sixth-Generation Fighter Program: Official |url=https://www.twz.com/china-is-working-on-its-own-sixth-generation-fighter-program-official |website=The War Zone |access-date=27 December 2024 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226214415/https://www.twz.com/china-is-working-on-its-own-sixth-generation-fighter-program-official |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Arthur |first=Gordon |date=24 June 2024 |title=When will China have a sixth-gen fighter jet? |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/06/24/when-will-china-have-a-sixth-gen-fighter-jet/ |website=]}}</ref> |
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On 26 December 2024, a new Shenyang prototype aircraft, believed to be part of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter program, was spotted near ]'s facilities. The reveal coincided with the spotting of the ] from its sister company, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.<ref name="ras_241127">{{cite web |last=Sweetman |first=Bill |date=27 December 2024 |title=Boxing clever? China's next-gen tailless combat aircraft analysed |url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/boxing-clever-chinas-next-gen-tailless-combat-aircraft-analysed/ |website=] |access-date=29 December 2024 |archive-date=29 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229172443/https://www.aerosociety.com/news/boxing-clever-chinas-next-gen-tailless-combat-aircraft-analysed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 a ] strike fighter as the chase plane.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=2024-12-26 |title=Yes, China Just Flew Another Tailless Next-Generation Stealth Combat Aircraft |url=https://www.twz.com/air/yes-china-just-flew-another-tailless-next-generation-stealth-combat-aircraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226215552/https://www.twz.com/air/yes-china-just-flew-another-tailless-next-generation-stealth-combat-aircraft |archive-date=26 December 2024 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="forbes">{{cite web |title=China Revealed Two New Stealth Fighter Designs In One Momentous Day |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/12/26/china-revealed-two-new-stealth-fighter-designs-in-one-momentous-day/ |publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2024/12/27/second-new-chinese-stealth-jet/ |title=Second New Chinese Stealth Jet Emerges in the Same Day |website=The Aviationist |first=Stefano |last=D'Urso |date=27 December 2024 }}</ref> |
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On 26 December 2024, a new Shenyang prototype aircraft, believed to be part of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter program, was spotted near ]'s facilities. The reveal coincided with the spotting of the ] from its sister company, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.<ref name="ras_241127">{{cite web |last=Sweetman |first=Bill |date=27 December 2024 |title=Boxing clever? China's next-gen tailless combat aircraft analysed |url=https://www.aerosociety.com/news/boxing-clever-chinas-next-gen-tailless-combat-aircraft-analysed/ |website=] |access-date=29 December 2024 |archive-date=29 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229172443/https://www.aerosociety.com/news/boxing-clever-chinas-next-gen-tailless-combat-aircraft-analysed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 a ] strike fighter as the chase plane.<ref name="twz_241226_02">{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=2024-12-26 |title=Yes, China Just Flew Another Tailless Next-Generation Stealth Combat Aircraft |url=https://www.twz.com/air/yes-china-just-flew-another-tailless-next-generation-stealth-combat-aircraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226215552/https://www.twz.com/air/yes-china-just-flew-another-tailless-next-generation-stealth-combat-aircraft |archive-date=26 December 2024 |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="forbes">{{cite web |title=China Revealed Two New Stealth Fighter Designs In One Momentous Day |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/12/26/china-revealed-two-new-stealth-fighter-designs-in-one-momentous-day/ |publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name="aviationist_241227">{{cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2024/12/27/second-new-chinese-stealth-jet/ |title=Second New Chinese Stealth Jet Emerges in the Same Day |website=The Aviationist |first=Stefano |last=D'Urso |date=27 December 2024 }}</ref> |
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==Design== |
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The Shenyang prototype fighter features a cranked arrow configuration with sharply swept lambda wings and two engines.<ref name="aw_241126">{{cite web |date=26 December 2024 |title=New Chinese Advanced Combat Aircraft Emerge In Flight |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/new-chinese-advanced-combat-aircraft-emerge-flight |website=Aviation Week |access-date=27 December 2024 |archive-date=27 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227020656/https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/new-chinese-advanced-combat-aircraft-emerge-flight |url-status=live }}</ref> The medium size of the aircraft was speculated to be more suitable for operations on aircraft carriers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3293762/why-do-chinas-sixth-gen-stealth-fighters-have-different-designs |title=Why do China’s sixth-gen stealth fighters have different designs? |website=South China Morning Post |date=7 January 2025 |first1=Amber |last1=Wangin |first2=Sylvie |last2=Zhuang }}</ref> |
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The Shenyang prototype fighter features a cranked arrow configuration with sharply swept lambda wings and two engines.<ref name="aw_241126">{{cite web |date=26 December 2024 |title=New Chinese Advanced Combat Aircraft Emerge In Flight |url=https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/new-chinese-advanced-combat-aircraft-emerge-flight |website=Aviation Week |access-date=27 December 2024 |archive-date=27 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227020656/https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/new-chinese-advanced-combat-aircraft-emerge-flight |url-status=live }}</ref> The medium size of the aircraft was speculated to be more suitable for operations on aircraft carriers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3293762/why-do-chinas-sixth-gen-stealth-fighters-have-different-designs |title=Why do China’s sixth-gen stealth fighters have different designs? |website=South China Morning Post |date=7 January 2025 |first1=Amber |last1=Wangin |first2=Sylvie |last2=Zhuang }}</ref> The cockpit canopy was not visible from any available footage of the aircraft, leading to diverging theories on it being a crewed,<ref name="aviationist_241227"/> uncrewed,<ref name="ras_241127"/> or optionally crewed aircraft.<ref name="twz_241226_02"/> |
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== See also== |
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== See also== |
On 26 December 2024, a new Shenyang prototype aircraft, believed to be part of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter program, was spotted near Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's facilities. The reveal coincided with the spotting of the Chengdu J-36 from its sister company, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. 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 a Shenyang J-16 strike fighter as the chase plane.
The Shenyang prototype fighter features a cranked arrow configuration with sharply swept lambda wings and two engines. The medium size of the aircraft was speculated to be more suitable for operations on aircraft carriers. The cockpit canopy was not visible from any available footage of the aircraft, leading to diverging theories on it being a crewed, uncrewed, or optionally crewed aircraft.