Coming Soon: China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter

China to Unveil New J-35A Stealth Fighter in a Matter of Days: China did it again. It seems every time you check the news, Xi Jinping’s military is getting better. New aircraft carriers, ships, submarines, fighter jets, bombers, you name it, China has it.

Now, Beijing is patting itself on the back because of a new stealth fighter making waves. Enter the J-35A radar-evading warplane. It’s a jet that reminds you of the F-35 and China could care less if you think it’s a copy.

What Is All the Fuss About?

On November 5, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) released an image of this new warbird and will unveil it officially at an air show the week of November 11 in in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. This is another way the Chinese flex their muscles in East Asia. The PLAAF has modernized. Their pilots have no combat experience, but they have come a long way since some once refused to fly in the rain or at night around 20 years ago. Chinese pilots can now fly 24-7 in all weather.

The J-35A Will Make a Substantial Impact

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 news organization that focuses on defense issues, CNN said.

The J-35A will allow the PLAAF to put even more pressure on Taiwan and Japan. The United States will have to admit that its overall advantage in stealth combat airplanes is waning. The F-35 and F-22 are great but the days when the U.S. Air Force could destroy the PLAAF without much trouble are over.

Two Stealth Aircraft in the Chinese Air Force

Along with the J-35A, China also has the J-20 with stealth attributes. The PLAAF may have as many as 195 J-20s. The PLAAF is the second air force in the world besides the United States to have at least two stealth fighters in the fleet. The J-35A could also give way to the J-35B naval jet that could take off and land on carriers.

Not So Fast; China Hasn’t Completely Figured Out Stealth

It is not clear when the J-35A could be ready for full-time production. The Chinese like to brag, and we don’t know what kind of hiccups the program will have. Stealth aviation is extremely difficult, and I would wager that, like the J-20’s limitations, China has not completely mastered radar evasion technology and capabilities. Thus, the J-35A may not be fully stealthy like the F-35 and F-22.

Origins of the J-35

Nevertheless, the PLAAF continues to forge ahead. The J-35 program is an offshoot of the FC-31. The FC-31 has “design enhancements, including smoother contours, a larger radome to accommodate an improved radar system, and better-aligned control surfaces to minimize the aircraft’s radar signature,” according to the Eurasian Times.

Naval Version Would Be Troubling

If the J-35 becomes an option for Chinese carriers, it will be a significant step forward for naval aviation. There was a time when People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) had no experience launching and landing on carriers. That time is over. The PLAN is stronger than ever with three functioning carriers.

Time to Pay Even More Attention to Chinese Aviation

U.S. battle planners and intelligence analysts should take notice. China grows stronger militarily by the day. The United States could realize that its advantages in air battle scenarios are eroding. The F-35A could carry anti-ship missiles some day and that would tip the scales in the favor of the Chinese should a naval battle over Taiwan ever ensue.

This Changes the Combat Calculus

The Americans must realize that their surface vessels and even aircraft carriers could be destroyed. Plus, the J-35A could fly over Taiwan and launch air-to-ground missiles to take out targets in Taipei. That means Taiwan needs better air defenses and the United States must depend on its Aegis Combat System to counteract anti-ship missiles fired from stealth fighters like the J-20 and eventually the J-35A.

Thus, the J-35A complicates things in East Asia considerably. China wants parity with the United States military and dominance over American allies in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea are crying out for the United States to remain in the region with a significant force to somehow deter the Chinese. That is possible but Xi Jinping’s defense industrial base is more active than America’s. The next U.S. president will create a new defense strategy for the region and China’s stealth fighter parity with the U.S. Navy and Air Force. This will force military planners to work around the J-20 and J-35A and give these airplanes a wide birth. Let’s hope the American strategists know what they are doing.

About the Author

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.