The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), unveiled production of the J-35 during an interview with China’s state broadcaster CCTV. The interview focused on the new J-15T, an upgraded, carrier-based variant of the J-15, designed to operate on China’s latest Fujian-class aircraft carrier. However, the showpiece was in many frames of the interview, a green under-production J-35 can be seen in the background. J-35A, reportedly, has entered limited operation and been approved for mass production, and China will use the fifth-generation fighter on its aircraft carrier. This makes Pakistan one step closer to inducting J-35 in its fleet. Pakistan has confirmed that China has reportedly offered the J-35 fighter jet following the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, during which Pakistan downed several Indian Air Force aircraft, including French-made fighters. Meanwhile, India has approved the fifth-generation AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program, which is expected to become operational by 2035. However, India currently has limited options for fifth-generation fighters, leaving a potential capability gap in the interim.
According to open-source data available, the J-35 is a potent fifth-generation multi-role fighter with a combined payload capacity of 8000 kg (2000 internal, 6000 external, armed with PL-15E air-to-air missiles, PL-10 short-range missiles, KD-88 air-to-surface missiles, YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, FT-series bombs, LS-6 glide bombs, and LT-series laser-guided bombs. Its advanced avionics include an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor, Wide-Area Head-Up Display (HUD), Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD), Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), and sensor data fusion systems. Powered by two Guizhou WS-19 afterburning turbofan engines, the aircraft has an empty weight of ~17,000 kg and a max takeoff weight of ~28,000 kg. It reaches a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and has a combat radius of approximately 1,200 km, extendable via aerial refueling.
There has been official confirmation of Pakistan acquiring the J-35. In case of acquisition, the Pakistan Air Force will have a strategic edge in South Asia and will further enhance its already advanced kill-chain. The acquisition itself is not significant, but the package surrounding it makes it a lethal war machine in an already integrated kill chain. An example of this is the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, which has also been offered in the defense package, and has a detection radar of 470 km and an operational range of 5700 km. As it is a Chinese system, it will have no problems integrating with the PAF’s latest J-10Cs. The integrated systems used by PAF are already combat-proven, albeit after the initial Indian attack on 7th May. This resulted in a gap felt by the Indian Air Force in its tactics, which reportedly forced India to change its operational dynamics.
On the other hand, the Indian Defence Ministry has approved the framework for building India’s most advanced stealth fighter amid a standoff with Pakistan. India lost numerous fighters against Pakistan’s Air Force, including its most prized French-made Rafale, in a conflict that was the most intense in recent years. While the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) project has been in development since 2010, this haste approval seems to be due to a recent air battle. The approval of the execution model, which is to be implemented by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) through an industry partnership framework, seems to enhance strike capability. However, India faces significant delays and doctrinal problems concerning its defense equipment, which may not change the outcome of the next standoff.
Reportedly, India will unveil the fighter between 2028 and 2029, begin production between 2032 and 2033, and commence mass production in 2035. The aircraft will reportedly include an internal weapons bay and a divertless supersonic intake, both of which will be produced in India. Additionally, the aircraft will carry 1500kg of load internally and 5500kg externally with a 6500 kg fuel tank. The timeframe looks impressive for the launch; then, one asks why there was a need to unveil the aircraft now, and regarding the ambitious timeline, given past delays on HAL Tejas.
The 2025 India-Pakistan air battle, which occurred primarily on the night of May 7, ended in a tactical failure for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Pakistan claimed to have downed six Indian fighters; a senior BJP leader, Subramanian Swamy, cited five. This clash resulted in the IAF grounding its fleet for 2 days, according to Indian Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan. This admission by India’s CDS means that in a 4-day conflict, IAF was grounded for 2 days, which should be enough abasement for one of the largest air forces in the world. This tactical failure may have contributed to India’s haste in approving the AMCA project. The French-made Rafale may not have worked as well as Indian planners initially thought, resulting in losses. The fighter, regarded as a potent 4.5-generation aircraft, uses a plethora of armaments to target adversaries and has a tiny Radar cross-section. Even then, the French-made fighter performed well below average, being locked on and fired upon by Chinese-made Pakistani fighters. This is surprising, given that the same Rafale had previously demonstrated its capability by locking onto an F-22 in a simulated confrontation in the Advanced Tactical Leadership Course (ATLC) in the United Arab Emirates in November 2009, as evidenced by French video footage.
Given these mixed results, India’s push for an indigenous fighter like the AMCA may indeed make strategic sense in the long run. However, delays in the production and delivery of HAL Tejas are well-known. The Indian Air Chief has regularly criticized the lack of timely delivery. In February, the IAF chief criticized the HAL for a lack of deliveries of Tejas, where he was heard saying, “I was promised that by February, 11 Tejas Mark 1A jets would be ready. Not a single one is ready.” Again, in late May, he said that regarding weapon system delays, he could not recall a single instance of a project being executed on time. Notably, the Ministry of Defence was confident that HAL could deliver 16-24 aircraft in 2025-2026. Realistically, HAL has produced an alarmingly low number of 33 Tejas fighters since its inception. Although HAL is not the only entity involved in the AMCA’s production, the timeline set by the Ministry of Defence appears overly optimistic, especially given that most of the design and manufacturing will be handled domestically. Given India’s past struggles with indigenous defence projects, skepticism is warranted.
The strategic imperatives of India and Pakistan have given rise to two distinctly different approaches to air power modernization, each reflecting their unique geopolitical positions, economic realities, and doctrinal philosophies.
India’s pursuit of air power is characterized by the ambitious goals of its Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) policy. This is most prominently embodied in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, a fifth-generation fighter project. The development timeline, projecting entry into service in the 2030s, is inherently risky given the pace of technological obsolescence. Historical precedents, such as the protracted development of the HAL Tejas, which, despite being a domestic achievement, still relies on foreign-sourced engines and radars, highlight the immense difficulty of such an undertaking. Analysts like Pravin Sawhney have pointed out that this path may create a critical capability gap in the near term, leading to debates on whether strategic partnerships for existing aircraft like the F-35 or Su-57 might offer a more immediate solution.
In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has cultivated a reputation for a pragmatic and incremental modernization strategy. This approach prioritizes operational readiness and tactical parity through cost-effective, high-impact procurements and a clear alignment of doctrine with equipment. The PAF’s doctrine (Large Force Engagement, Small Area Battlespace) emphasizes a lean, network-centric force where quality and interoperability are paramount. This vision has been successfully executed through programs like the JF-17 Thunder, developed in partnership with China, which provided a modernizable and sustainable multi-role backbone for the fleet. This was strategically complemented by the acquisition of the J-10C, a now proven 4.5-generation fighter that integrated advanced avionics and AESA radar to deliver an immediate and significant capability boost.
Looking forward, the PAF’s potential acquisition of a fifth-generation aircraft like the J-35 appears logical and calculated. Rather than an ambitious project starting from scratch, it represents a potential next step in a sequential and sustainable procurement plan. This approach allows the PAF to mitigate risk, manage costs, and focus on integrating new technologies as they become available and necessary. This results in a force structure that is consistently contemporary and operationally credible, ensuring that technological advancements are matched by the doctrinal and training frameworks required to wield them effectively.
The potential induction of the J-35 could represent a significant technological advancement for the Pakistan Air Force, potentially enhancing its operational capability amid regional force disparities. If integrated effectively, the aircraft’s advanced features, such as low observability, sensor fusion, supercruise, and network-centric warfare capabilities, may substantially modernize the PAF’s fleet. This shift could contribute to a more balanced aerial deterrence posture in the region. Such a development may reinforce strategic stability by narrowing capability gaps, thereby encouraging more cautious calculations and risk management on both sides in any future confrontation. The introduction of a fifth-generation platform would also enable more sophisticated mission profiles and increase the tactical flexibility of the PAF, potentially altering the operational dynamics during periods of heightened tension. This evolution in air power may lead to a more calculated and measured approach from all parties, reducing the likelihood of rapid escalation and promoting a steadier, if more competitive, military balance.
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