Unveiling of J-35: China revealed its J-35 stealth fighter at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.
Capabilities: The J-35 has both air-to-air and air-to-surface strike functions and is carrier-capable.
Comparison to U.S. Aircraft: Competes with the U.S. F-35 but lacks a vertical takeoff and landing model like the F-35B.
Expert Opinions: Analysts say China’s air power still trails the U.S. by 10-15 years in terms of training and readiness.
Operational Use: Expected to join Chinese military drills by March 2026.
China has unveiled its J-35 stealth fighter, marking a significant move in its military modernization efforts and challenge to U.S. aerial dominance. Revealed at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, the J-35 boasts air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities, with analysts noting it still trails behind U.S. capabilities by 10-15 years. Expected to enter operational use by 2026, the J-35 may be produced at lower costs, enhancing its appeal for exports. The exhibition also featured Russia’s Su-57, signaling deeper Sino-Russian ties as both nations advance in aerial technology, focusing on unmanned, AI-powered aircraft.
J-35 Stealth Fighter Jet
China has showcased its newest stealth fighter to the public for the first time, as Beijing upgrades its military to rival Washington for aerial dominance amidst escalating regional tensions.
The ground-based J-35A stealth fighter was revealed at the start of the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, southern China, featuring a five-minute air show.
According to state media, a model of the carrier-based variant of the J-35 was also showcased. The air show, held every two years, ranks among Asia’s largest military aircraft exhibitions.
While information regarding the J-35’s performance is scarce, analysts noted that its launch signifies an important advancement in China’s attempts to modernize its military and confront US supremacy in the Asia-Pacific area, particularly concerning Taiwan, which Beijing asserts sovereignty over.
Carl Schuster, a military analyst and former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s joint intelligence center, remarked that this year’s air show aimed to convey “the message that [China’s military] is on par with the US and the other Western nations.”
“US military has experienced . . . air dominance in all conflicts since World War II.” China’s expanding air capabilities now pose a challenge to the previously established Western advantage, he noted.
With the introduction of the J-35, China becomes one of the only nations, alongside the US, capable of manufacturing multiple series of stealth fighters. It is the only nation currently manufacturing two series, following the US’s cessation of F-22 Raptor production.
“China has matched the variety of hardware it possesses, at least in terms of presentation,” stated James Char, an assistant professor and authority on China’s military at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
“However, regarding catching up to the Americans, most analysts would estimate it is still about 10-15 years behind,” he mentioned, pointing out other factors of military deployment like training and operational preparedness.
The J-35, developed for over ten years by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, part of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, will be added to China’s air-to-air oriented J-20 stealth fighter, which became operational in 2017.
Schuster projected that the initial J-35s would participate in the operational drills of the Chinese air force in March 2026.
The J-35 series is built to compete with the US F-35 stealth jet series, featuring air-to-surface and air-to-air strike functions, along with the capability to launch from aircraft carriers, stated Shanghai analyst Ni Lexiong.
However, according to Ni, Beijing has not yet revealed a model capable of vertical takeoff and landing like the F-35B.
Peter Layton, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, observed that the J-35 was coming into service almost a decade after the US F-35 and arrived as Washington was already developing next-generation aircraft.
However, China’s manufacturing capabilities suggested that the J-35s could be produced more easily and at a lower cost compared to their expensive US counterparts, providing them an edge in possible export markets, he stated.
The arrival of the J-35 coincides with the evolving nature of aerial warfare, according to Layton, as both nations are progressively turning to unmanned aircraft controlled by artificial intelligence.
This year’s air show featured Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57, indicating the “expanding and strengthening” ties between Beijing and Moscow, stated Collin Koh, senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School.
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