China unveils new ‘invisible’ fighter jet J-35A

Chinese Air Force is set to officially debut its new stealth fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35A, at an air show in the southern city of Zhuhai next week.

The jet’s image was released before the world during an Air Force press conference on Nov 5.

The J-35A is “designed mainly for air combat operations and can also conduct air-to-surface attack, according to a report from a Chinese military-affiliated outlet.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force recently said that the J-35A is China's answer to America’s F-35. It claimed that this fighter jet is equipped with stealth technology and it cannot be tracked by any radar systems.

The J-35A is a medium-sized stealth fighter capable of performing multiple roles, said Colonel Niu Wenbo of the Chinese Air Force.

“Chinese aircraft will be invisible in a way and will be able to carry out operations inside the enemy territory.” Wenbo was quoted as saying.

Stealth fighters are those that are designed to evade radar and other monitoring to conduct missions without being detected or intercepted.

The J-35 is likely to be designed as a series and may also be used as carrier-based aircraft in the future, Chinese military expert Li Li was quoted as saying. This would “greatly improve the overall strength of China’s sea and air combat,” she said.

According to a Janes report published earlier this year, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force between inducted over 70 J-20s, bringing the force’s operational fleet up to around 195 between July 2023 and June this year.

Pakistan’s army has also purchased the fighter jet from China and its supply is going to start soon. Pakistani pilots are taking training to fly it, according to media reports.

While China and Pakistan are joining their air forces with stealth fighter jets, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is still waiting for a new version of its indigenous fourth-generation fighter jet Tejas.

US company GE is not providing engines for the new version of Tejas fighter jets. They said that they will now be able to supply it in 2025, officials were quoted as saying on Nov 6.

Zhuhai Air show

The Zhuhai Air Show is going to be held in China from Nov 12 to 17. Russia’s Sukhoi-57 fighter jet has also arrived to join it. A Chinese military official recently released a picture of this fighter jet but did not give more information.

After the US, China has now become the second country whose air force includes two types of stealth fighter jets. China already has J-20 stealth fighter jets. This new fighter jet is being discussed in China’s social media, reports said.

Defense experts were quoted as saying that China’s J-35 fighter jet is the answer to America’s F-35. Unlike the F-35, the J-35 fighter is not equipped with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, according to them.