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AVIC Releases Image of Pakistan Air Force Pilot Inside J-35A Stealth Fighter Cockpit

The caption accompanying the image on AVIC’s official channel simply reads: “Buyers gives good reviews,” offering subtle confirmation of the delivery agreement.

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(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a striking development underscoring deepening military ties between Islamabad and Beijing, a recent social media post by China’s Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) has revealed a Pakistani Air Force (PAF) pilot seated inside the cockpit of the J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighter.
The image, published days ago, has further cemented reports that Pakistan has officially acquired the J-35A stealth fighter, marking a major strategic shift in South Asia’s aerial power balance.
It also suggests that PAF pilots are already in China undergoing operational training on the advanced fifth-generation platform, as previously reported by local defence media.
The caption accompanying the image on AVIC’s official channel simply reads: “Buyers gives good reviews,” offering subtle confirmation of the delivery agreement.
Earlier this month, the Pakistani government publicly confirmed its decision to acquire the J-35A stealth fighter, the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft, and the long-range HQ-19 air defence system.
“The Chinese military package to Pakistan is a testament to the diplomatic and defence successes under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” the government announcement read.
“These high-technology military assets will significantly boost the capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force and national air defence systems in line with the demands of modern warfare.”

J-35A

Beijing’s strategic military assistance arrives at a crucial juncture, especially in the wake of heightened tensions following recent skirmishes between Pakistan and India.
The J-35A, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)—a subsidiary of AVIC—is China’s second indigenously developed fifth-generation fighter aircraft after the J-20 “Mighty Dragon.”
According to credible reports, China is expected to deliver the first batch of these low-observable stealth fighters to the Pakistan Air Force within the coming months.
Earlier reporting by Defence Security Asia indicated that Beijing is expediting the delivery of the J-35A to ensure Pakistan receives the aircraft by the first quarter of 2026.
Citing sources within the Pakistan Air Force, the report stated that China had agreed to accelerate the J-35A delivery schedule by six months to reinforce Pakistan’s strategic deterrent posture.
Pakistan is expected to operate a fleet of approximately 40 J-35A fighters, making it the first foreign operator of China’s fifth-generation combat aircraft.
Senior Pakistani government officials told defence outlet Janes that the delivery of the J-35A to Islamabad will take place in “the coming months.”
“Pakistani Air Force pilots are already in China undergoing training to fly and operate the J-35A,” the senior official confirmed to Janes, further validating the rapid operational integration timeline.
J-35A
J-35A
Additional reports suggest that the upcoming J-35A units to be delivered to Pakistan will be equipped with China’s next-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), the PL-17.
The PL-17, also known in some circles as the PL-XX, is China’s most advanced very-long-range air-to-air missile (VLRAAM), believed to be capable of striking airborne targets at ranges exceeding 400 kilometers.
Designed to enable the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to engage high-value airborne assets such as AWACS, aerial tankers, and electronic warfare aircraft from extreme standoff distances, the PL-17 significantly enhances China’s long-range aerial interception doctrine.
Reports indicate the PL-17 incorporates a multi-mode seeker combining active radar, infrared sensors, and satellite navigation, allowing for mid-course correction and high-precision terminal guidance—placing it among the most lethal air-to-air missiles in development globally.
Hints of Pakistan’s intentions to acquire the J-35A stealth fighter emerged as early as 2024.
That year, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Zaheer stated publicly that the J-35A would soon enter operational service with the Pakistan Air Force.
“Negotiations have already taken place for the acquisition of the J-35A, which will soon become part of the Pakistan Air Force,” he declared at the time.
J-35A
J-35A
Pakistani media also reported that the air force had begun sending its pilots to China to undergo specialized training on the J-35A platform, affirming that the South Asian nation is actively preparing to field its first fifth-generation combat aircraft.
The J-35A is a twin-engine, single-seat stealth fighter designed specifically for the export market.
It is intended to serve as a lower-cost alternative to the American F-35, offering radar-evading design, internal weapons carriage, and multi-role capabilities at a more accessible price point.
The fighter plays a crucial role in China’s broader push to refine its fifth-generation combat aircraft design and export it to partner nations aligned with Beijing’s strategic interests.
Earlier prototypes of the J-35A were believed to be powered by the Russian-made RD-93 engines—also used in the JF-17—but more recent variants have reportedly transitioned to China’s domestically developed WS-13E engines, delivering improved thrust and efficiency.
Informed by the J-35A’s stealthy airframe and modular architecture, China has also developed a carrier-capable variant of the aircraft, designated the J-35, tailored for naval operations from People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carriers.
The J-35A reflects China’s broader ambition to modernize its military aerospace capabilities and challenge U.S. dominance in the global airpower landscape.
Equipped with a low-observable design, advanced sensor fusion, and full integration into network-centric warfare environments, the J-35A is envisioned as a critical node within a layered air defence architecture.
J-35A
J-35A
The platform is capable of acquiring targets, sharing real-time data with air defence systems and allied aircraft, and directing munitions to intercept incoming threats—including stealth aircraft and long-range cruise missiles.
China’s J-35A marks a technological leap toward fielding an affordable, export-ready fifth-generation stealth aircraft in large numbers, while gradually replacing older fourth-generation platforms such as the J-7, J-8, and even the J-10.
For Pakistan, the induction of the J-35A represents not only a monumental leap in airpower capability but also a signal of deepening defence alignment with China at a time when regional rivalries are escalating rapidly.
— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
2 Comments
  1. Bu Ali Shah says

    Ne Hao, Wan see, Xie Xie No.
    I running out of my mandrian, these are too few words to show our sincere gratitude dear old friend, loving neighbour & comrade in arms. Bless PRC.

  2. Bu Ali Shah says

    Ne Hao, Wan see, Xie Xie No.
    I running out of my mandrian, these are too few words to show our sincere gratitude dear old friend, loving neighbour & comrade in arms. Bless PRC.

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