Pakistan’s Stealth Surge: Islamabad Races Ahead with China’s Fifth-Gen J-35A as India Lags Behind

Ad

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The recent high-profile visit of Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar to Beijing has intensified speculation that Islamabad is on the cusp of acquiring the Chinese-built fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-35A.

The visit came at a time of heightened regional tensions and strategic rebalancing, as arch-rival India announced a massive US$36 billion (RM33.4 billion) deal to procure 26 Rafale Marine and Rafale B fighter jets to strengthen its naval aviation wing.

According to Global Times, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer held substantive talks with China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun in the Chinese capital on April 8, with discussions centred on strengthening bilateral military cooperation in the face of increasingly fluid regional security dynamics.

The meeting served as a clear signal of Pakistan’s growing strategic alignment with Beijing, especially in the domain of high-end defence technologies and fifth-generation airpower capability.

Reports that surfaced late last year indicated Islamabad was preparing to procure up to 40 J-35A stealth fighters from China, with deliveries expected to be completed within two years—a timeline that could significantly compress Pakistan’s entry into the fifth-generation fighter league.

If finalised, the acquisition would mark China’s first-ever export of a fifth-generation combat aircraft, a historic milestone that also underscores Beijing’s ambitions to challenge Western aerospace dominance in the global fighter jet market.

News of the prospective sale followed a discreet visit to Islamabad in November 2023 by General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, during which he reportedly held closed-door discussions with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir.

Following Air Chief Marshal Zaheer’s latest trip to Beijing, Pakistani social media platforms and local defence watchers have suggested that China is now considering an accelerated delivery schedule, with the first batch of J-35As possibly arriving as early as next year.

Beijing is said to be aware of Pakistan’s urgent need to modernize its airpower capability amid India’s rapid acquisition of 4.5-generation platforms and has expressed willingness to fast-track the aircraft’s handover.

Should the J-35A enter service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), it could dramatically reshape the subcontinent’s aerial balance of power, offering Islamabad a quantum leap in stealth, survivability, and multi-role versatility over India’s current fleet.

India, despite its formidable inventory of Su-30MKIs and French Rafales, still lacks a fifth-generation combat platform, placing it at a significant technological disadvantage if Pakistan proceeds with the J-35A acquisition.

PAF officials first hinted in early 2024 at their intentions to induct the stealth aircraft developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, positioning it as a core component of Pakistan’s next-generation air combat strategy.

In that same year, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer publicly confirmed that the aircraft would be entering PAF service in the near future.

“Negotiations have been held to facilitate the acquisition of the J-35A, which will soon become part of the Pakistan Air Force,” he had stated.

Multiple Pakistani media outlets have since reported that PAF pilots are already undergoing operational training in China to fly the J-35A, providing further evidence that the programme is progressing rapidly behind the scenes.

The dispatch of pilots for early conversion training suggests not only Islamabad’s intent but also China’s confidence in the platform’s operational readiness and export viability.

The J-35A, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter designed for air superiority and ground-attack missions, tailored to meet both land-based and carrier-based operational requirements.

Its entry into Pakistani service is also part of a broader modernization effort aimed at phasing out ageing fourth-generation platforms such as the American F-16 and French Mirage 5 that have long formed the backbone of the PAF.

Once operational, the J-35A will complement Pakistan’s existing fleet of JF-17s and J-10Cs—both also Chinese-linked projects—thereby consolidating an air combat ecosystem rooted in Sino-Pakistani technological synergy.

This evolving synergy not only modernizes Pakistan’s air combat posture but deepens Islamabad’s defence-industrial relationship with Beijing, which continues to displace the United States as Pakistan’s primary arms supplier.

Should Pakistan acquire the full 40 units under discussion, the strategic implications for South Asia’s air domain will be profound, especially with India yet to field or even finalise a fifth-generation fighter programme.

Already facing the PLA Air Force’s Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” New Delhi may soon find itself sandwiched between two neighbouring air forces equipped with low-observable, fifth-generation strike capability.

Retired Air Commodore Zia Ul Haque Shamshi, a former senior officer in the Pakistan Air Force, believes the J-35A acquisition could grant Islamabad a significant aerial advantage over India lasting over a decade.

“India is not expected to acquire fifth-generation fighter capability within that timeframe (12 to 14 years), thereby giving the Pakistan Air Force a clear strategic edge,” he said.

With its stealth characteristics and advanced avionics, the J-35A would allow Pakistan to conduct deeper penetration missions into contested airspace while evading modern air defence systems and hostile radar networks.

The J-35A is the second fifth-generation aircraft to be developed by China, following the larger and heavier J-20, and it represents Beijing’s bid to produce a more affordable, export-friendly stealth fighter for global markets.

Although detailed technical specifications remain classified, open-source intelligence has offered a glimpse into the aircraft’s formidable capabilities.

Design and Role:

The J-35A is a twin-engine, stealth-capable, multirole combat aircraft designed for all-weather operations with both air dominance and strike mission capabilities.

Speed:

The aircraft is reportedly capable of achieving speeds up to Mach 2.0, surpassing the F-35’s top speed of Mach 1.6, providing a critical advantage in pursuit and escape scenarios.

Engines:

The dual-engine configuration offers superior thrust, improved survivability, and enhanced manoeuvrability for dynamic combat environments.

Stealth Characteristics:

The J-35A features an internal weapons bay, radar-absorbent materials, and a reduced radar cross-section, enabling it to conduct missions with a lower probability of detection.

Avionics and Sensors:

It is expected to carry cutting-edge radar and sensor fusion systems, enabling high situational awareness, network-centric warfare capability, and precision targeting.

Variants:

Two versions of the aircraft are believed to be in development—one for the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and a carrier-capable variant for the PLA Navy (PLANAF), featuring catapult launch compatibility.

With its stealth signature, deep strike potential, and multi-domain adaptability, the J-35A is poised to be a transformational asset in the region—especially if Pakistan fields it before India’s fifth-generation ambitions take shape.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA