China Might Have Up to Five New Prototypes of the J-36 'NGAD' Stealth Fighter Flying and They Keep Showing Them Off While the Boeing F-47 Is a Top Secret Mystery

China may be working through as many as five prototypes of the J-36 “NGAD” sixth-generation stealth fighter, shown in increasingly varied images posted online. The revisions drew attention after aircraft were spotted flying over Chengdu in December 2024, the first clear sign of a platform intended to rival Boeing’s F-47 NGAD and related US Navy concepts such as the F/A-XX. Recent footage suggests more aggressive maneuvering than the design implies, while analysts believe Chengdu Aircraft Corporation is building a tailless, delta-shaped jet with three engines, internal weapons, and optimization for low observability, range, and payload. Observers have speculated the latest images reflect the fifth prototype, pointing to changes in nose, inlets, engine nozzles, and landing gear as China accelerates iteration.