Stealth Showdown: China’s J-50 and the Evolving US-China Air Superiority Race

The  video above “J-50: China’s Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet Ready to End American Air Superiority” paints a dramatic picture of aerial warfare’s future. Released in early 2025, it claims China’s Shenyang J-50 Shenlong is a revolutionary stealth fighter poised to dethrone US dominance. Featuring a Delta Canard design, nanotechnology for radar evasion, AI-driven combat decisions, defensive lasers, and Mach 2.5 speeds, the J-50 is depicted as controlling drone swarms via a “combat cloud” network, outmatching the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II in simulations.

This narrative underscores a heated rivalry where stealth technology—reducing radar cross-sections (RCS) to evade detection—defines modern fighters. As of August 15, 2025, both nations are advancing fifth- and sixth-generation platforms, but China’s rapid prototyping contrasts with US upgrades amid budget debates. This article compares their stealth arsenals, drawing on recent developments to assess capabilities, challenges, and implications.US Stealth Legacy: From Fifth-Gen Dominance to Sixth-Gen Ambitions. The United States pioneered stealth with the F-117 Nighthawk in the 1980s, but its current fleet centers on the F-22 and F-35. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, operational since 2005, remains the benchmark for air superiority. With an RCS akin to a marble (0.0001 m²), twin Pratt & Whitney F119 engines enabling supercruise at Mach 1.8, and thrust-vectoring for unmatched agility, it carries internal weapons like AIM-120 missiles to preserve stealth.  Continued below this next vid on America’s next gen fighter (named after Trump – 47!)

F-47 Fighter Jet EXPOSED : America’s Secret 6th Generation Superweapon

By mid-2025, the US Air Force (USAF) is investing over $90 million in a “viability” upgrade program for Fiscal Year 2026, enhancing sensors, electronic warfare, and threat protection against emerging Chinese systems. Only 187 were built due to costs exceeding $143 million each, but upgrades aim to extend service life amid Pacific tensions. The multirole F-35 Lightning II, with over 1,000 delivered globally by 2025, emphasizes versatility. Its RCS is golf ball-sized (0.0015 m²), and it integrates advanced AESA radars with sensor fusion for network-centric operations. Top speed is Mach 1.6, with a 2,200 km range and 18,000 lbs payload. Variants include the F-35A (land-based), F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing), and F-35C (carrier). Lockheed Martin’s CEO announced in May 2025 plans for a “fifth-generation-plus” upgrade, incorporating sixth-gen tech like new stealth coatings, shape adjustments, and optional uncrewed flight.

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In March 2025, President Trump reaffirmed commitment, aiming for dominance over China. Lockheed, after losing a bid, pitches the upgraded F-35 as a “bridging fighter,” while Boeing advances concepts with hypersonic potential.

The U.S. unveils it’s new F-47 stealth fighter, the centerpiece of the NGAD program, a “family of systems” designed to integrate advanced manned and unmanned platforms, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones. Announced by President Donald Trump alongside Secretary… pic.twitter.com/0vlhEjfg6d

— The SCIF (@TheIntelSCIF) March 21, 2025

NGAD emphasizes affordability, with costs targeted below F-35 levels, and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for loyal wingman drones. However, budget constraints and tech hurdles delay full deployment to the 2030s. China’s Stealth Surge: Catching Up and Leaping Ahead. China’s stealth program, inspired by US designs but accelerated by indigenous innovation, has produced formidable fifth-gen fighters while racing toward sixth-gen. The Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon, in service since 2017, is China’s air superiority mainstay. With an RCS of 0.05 m², Mach 2 speeds, and supercruise via WS-15 engines, it boasts a 2,000+ km range and 24,000 lbs payload for PL-15 missiles. By 2025, over 250 are operational, with the two-seat J-20S variant entering service, featuring refined electro-optical sensors and drone control for MUM-T operations.

The J-50, spotlighted in the video, is Shenyang’s tailless stealth marvel. Test flights continued into August 2025, with WS-20 engines, AI for predictive combat, lasers, and drone command up to six units. Recent sightings include a third tailless jet, possibly a variant or competitor, sparking speculation of multiple prototypes. China’s investment exceeds ¥500 billion since 2018, enabling faster production—one J-50 every six months. Head-to-Head: Technological and Strategic Clash Comparing specs reveals nuances: