China’s shadowy next-generation fighter jet programs appear to be accelerating, with newly released commercial satellite imagery showing both the J-36 and J-XDS stealth aircraft at a remote and heavily expanded airbase near the Lop Nur nuclear test site in northwestern China. The findings, first reported by The War Zone and based on images from Planet Labs, mark the first time both sixth-generation designs have been spotted outside their known manufacturing centers.
According to The War Zone, the J-36 was captured outside a main hangar on August 27, 2025, its distinctive large delta wings and “splinter” camouflage clearly visible. A separate satellite image from September 13 shows the smaller, twin-engine J-XDS—also known as the J-50—on the same tarmac. The two aircraft were previously seen only at Chengdu and Shenyang, the factories responsible for their respective developments.
The base itself, located near Lop Nur, has long been linked to advanced Chinese aerospace projects, including reusable space planes. It features a colossal 16,400-foot runway—among the longest in the world—and has undergone major expansion in recent months. Satellite data reveals new hangars, enlarged aprons, and an array of freshly constructed buildings that suggest the facility is rapidly scaling up operations.
Measurements from the August 27 imagery indicate that the tri-engine J-36 spans roughly 65 feet with a total length of 62 feet, putting it in the same size class as the massive Soviet-era Flanker fighters, yet more complex and possibly more powerful. The smaller J-XDS, with its “lambda” wing design and 50-foot wingspan, appears to fit within the heavy fighter category, potentially offering greater agility and efficiency than its larger counterpart.
The airfield’s continued growth reflects its emerging role in China’s high-end aerospace testing ecosystem. The War Zone notes that analysts have compared the remote site to the United States’ Groom Lake facility in Nevada—better known as Area 51—given its secrecy, isolation, and its link to cutting-edge military technology. The Lop Nur base is even more secluded than the established Malan test airfield in Xinjiang, which primarily handles uncrewed aerial systems.
Despite its secretive nature, the Lop Nur site has been imaged frequently by commercial satellites. Remarkably, the presence of the J-36 and J-XDS in plain view suggests a growing confidence—or even a deliberate signaling move—by Beijing. Their simultaneous appearance underscores the possibility that both aircraft are now in advanced stages of development and testing, potentially forming complementary elements of China’s sixth-generation airpower strategy.
The War Zone report also highlights the broader trend of China’s rapid defense innovation, which now includes the development of large and small uncrewed aircraft designed for combat and support roles. One recent satellite image even shows what appears to be a “loyal wingman”-type drone at the Malan airfield, part of a new generation of collaborative combat aircraft.
In a related development, imagery circulated online over the weekend showing a navalized variant of the GJ-11 Sharp Sword stealth drone—fitted with an arrestor hook for carrier operations—further illustrating the breadth of China’s emerging high-tech arsenal.
Even as construction continues, the Lop Nur base has already become a focal point for China’s most advanced aerospace testing. With the J-36 and J-XDS now visible from space, The War Zone suggests the site could play an increasingly central role in shaping the future of Chinese air combat—one that may soon rival the world’s most secretive test facilities.
