China’s advancements in sixth-generation stealth fighter technology are rapidly evolving, as demonstrated by the unveiling of the second prototype of the J-36 on October 28, 2025. The aircraft features significant design upgrades, including advanced thrust-vectoring nozzles and redesigned inlets, emphasizing China’s ambition to enhance maneuverability and aerodynamic performance. Concurrently, the J-36 and another model, the J-XDS, have been undergoing testing at a secretive airbase near the Lop Nur nuclear site, showcasing China’s strategic commitment to developing next-generation air combat capabilities. These prototypes exhibit advanced features aimed at superior stealth and potential integration with AI and drone operations, positioning China to project power across the Indo-Pacific. With the capability to reach ranges exceeding 2,500 kilometers, including hypersonic strike missions, these developments symbolize a concerted effort to close the technological gap with U.S. air dominance and assert air superiority in Asia. This acceleration in military aviation technology underlines the geopolitical imperative for India to expedite its indigenous stealth fighter initiatives, particularly the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), in order to maintain strategic parity amid a complex regional security landscape.