It started with a dogfight that hit headlines on opposite continents. In May 2025, Chinese-made J-10C fighters flown by the Pakistan Air Force shot down three French Rafales in a high-risk engagement with India. The action was more than a strategic win it was a powerful illustration of how far Chinese aerospace capabilities have developed in pushing Western air power to the back foot.
Leading this jump are two industrial giants Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). Their insatiable quest for stealth, speed, and integrated combat capabilities has not only resulted in powerful fifth-generation fighter aircraft but is also venturing into sixth-generation designs. From carrier-based stealth fighters to multi-role electronic warfare aircraft, these airplanes are redefining the dynamics of air superiority across Asia and beyond. The following list discusses seven of the most sophisticated Chinese fighter aircraft and next-generation programs currently known, their capabilities, recent combat history, and strategic implications.
1. J-35 Gyrfalcon – China’s Carrier-Based Stealth Contender
The J-35, or Gyrfalcon, is China’s second carrier-capable stealth fighter and a direct competitor to the U.S. F-35 in maritime theaters like the Taiwan Strait. With a twin-engine design and Mach 2 top speed, it has a combat radius of approximately 750 miles. Its stealth profile is augmented by twin diverterless supersonic intakes and a more prominent dorsal fuselage hump to add fuel capacity.
Powered by an AESA radar, electro-optical targeting capability, and advanced infrared sensors, the J-35 is intended for air superiority and precision ground attack. Its planned J-35A variant will feature PL-10 short-range and PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, located in three internal bays with four further external hardpoints. As a stealth heavy to counter the F-35, its operational deployment will greatly enhance China’s carrier strike power.
2. J-16 – The Multi-Role Powerhouse
Unveiled by SAC, the twin-seat, twin-turbofan J-16 entered PLA service in 2015 and is an all-round platform with air superiority, ground strike, and suppression of enemy air defense capabilities. Equipped with WS-10B turbofans, it flies at Mach 2.4 and has a range of up to 3,000 kilometers.
Its variants are the J-16D, which is optimized for electronic warfare with enhanced jamming capabilities and a high-tech AESA radar. Its compatibility with PL-10, PL-12, PL-15, and PL-17 missiles makes the fighter capable of targeting at various ranges. Iran’s interest in procuring the J-16 as reported indicates its rising status as a combat-tested, export-capable platform.
3. J-20 Mighty Dragon – Speed and Stealth Beyond Rivals
Chengdu’s J-20 is China’s lead fifth-generation stealth fighter, developed to compete with the U.S. F-22 and F-35. It integrates an AESA radar, 360-degree infrared targeting, and durable electronic warfare resistance. Equipped for a full range of air-to-air missiles, it also has space for additional payloads on four wing hardpoints.
Notably, certain setups were reported by Nationalsecurityjournal.org to hit speeds of Mach 2.8 higher than the F-22 and F-35. Equipped with a 2,000 km combat radius and air refueling, the twin-seat J-20S variant of J-20 is seen as a command platform for manned-unmanned teaming, commanding advanced unmanned systems in contested airspace.
4. JF-17 Thunder – Export Success and Combat Credibility
Co-developed by Pakistan’s Aeronautical Complex and the CAC, the JF-17 is a low-cost 4.5-generation fighter that has been tested in war. The Block III model has an AESA radar and supports advanced missiles, placing it on par with pricier Western designs.
Its participation in the May 2025 Pakistan-India confrontations, combined with its successful mid-air refueling flight to the Royal International Air Tattoo, enhanced its visibility. Pakistan’s $4.6 billion sale of 40 JF-17Cs to Azerbaijan is its biggest defense export to date, a move that reconfigures the South Caucasus air balance and showcases China’s increasing influence through cooperative production.
5. J-10C Vigorous Dragon – Single-Engine Speed Demon
The J-10C, the fastest single-engine fighter at Mach 2, recently was the first plane to shoot down French Rafales in battle. Fitted with a WS-10B turbofan, it has a combat range of as much as 932 miles and an operational ceiling of 18,000 meters.
With digital fly-by-wire systems, composite airframes, and aerodynamic improvements, the J-10C is China’s indigenous fighter epitome. As a Chinese military affairs observer explained to the Global Times, “China’s advanced weaponry, exemplified by the J-10 series fighter jet, is radically changing the world’s perception of the Chinese military.”
6. J-36 – The Diamond-Shaped Sixth-Generation Prototype
Appearing in late 2024, the Chengdu J-36 surprised onlookers with its tailless, diamond-shaped delta wing configuration to minimize drag and radar signature. Dubbed the “Gingko leaf,” it has trailing edge control surfaces and split flaps to balance maneuverability against stealth.
While its official specifications are not yet declassified, its dimensions and aerodynamic shape tell the story of a super-heavy tactical jet capability, perhaps with long range and payload capability. The J-36’s design indicates China’s ambition to jump directly into sixth-generation capability, with designs streamlined for both stealth and high-speed cruise.
7. Shenyang J-50 – The Competitor Sixth-Generation Concept
Also known as the J-XDS, the Shenyang J-50 is reportedly a medium-class sixth-generation stealth fighter under development. Newly released imagery depicts a pointed nose, heavily swept cropped-tip wings, and a wide fuselage potentially twin-engine designed for low observability.
Speculation exists on whether the J-50 is a manned fighter, carrier-capable aircraft, or part of China’s growing ‘loyal wingman’ network. Its development is in parallel to the J-36, following the fierce internal battle between SAC and CAC to dictate the direction of Chinese air combat.
China’s fighter jet development is no longer about catching up it is about establishing new standards in speed, stealth, and multi-domain integration. From tested fourth-generation workhorses such as the J-10C to hypothetical sixth-generation prototypes such as the J-36 and J-50, the nation’s aerospace industry is establishing a portfolio that defies conventional Western hegemony. For defense aviation observers, these advances are not merely about equipment they are about an evolving world balance of airpower that will shape the future of aerial conflict.
