As China’s 5th-gen, stealthy carrier-launched J-35 surges into the operational sphere, new reports indicate the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force may be accelerating its ambition to become a dominant global airpower by “exporting” the aircraft.
J-35AE
China’s New J-35 Stealth Fighter
China New J-35 Fighter on Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: Chinese Weibo.
J-35 Fighter on Chinese Aircraft Carrier. Image Credit: X Screenshot.
If accurate, China’s reported decision to “export” stealth and sell 40 export variants of its J-35AE to Pakistan (Note: reports vary on the terms of the ‘sale’) could represent early PLA efforts to build a global, F-35-like multinational network of 5th-generation stealth aircraft.
The U.S.-built F-35 is now well-known for equipping at least 18 countries across Europe and Asia, and projections indicate there could be as many as 600 F-35s on the European continent by 2030.
Maritime-focused F-35Bs are also expanding rapidly, as both the U.K. and Japan now operate impactful fleets, further expanding U.S.-allied 5th-generation power projection.
China Competing Globally
Does China have the ambition to match or exceed this kind of multinational, allied global 5th-generation force? It would appear that way, and these kinds of Chinese long-term ambitions have been well documented over the course of many years in the Pentagon’s annual China report.
Previous thinking had been that the PRC planned to be a dominant global military power by its centennial in 2049; more recent consensus suggests that timeline may have moved up by many years.
J-35A Fighter at Le Bourget Air Show. Image Credit: Author/National Security Journal.
J-35 Fighter Screenshot. Image Credit: YouTube Screenshot.
J-35 vs F-35 Worldwide
An ability to marshal a large-scale, allied land and ocean-launched force of 5th-generation stealth, should it come to fruition, would present a serious rival to the F-35’s global dominance.
However, it will take many years to close this gap, given that hundreds of F-35s are now operational worldwide and more are being built.
PLA AF Growing
The PLA AF does appear to be rapidly growing a large fleet of 300-plus land-launched J-20s, but prior to the arrival of the F-35, China lacked an ocean-launched 5th-generation capability.
Closing this deficit, which can happen over time given China’s manufacturing capacity, could greatly erode the current U.S. Air Force advantage in the Pacific theater.
At the same time, it seems unlikely the PRC will be able to generate anything close to a comparable F-35-like multinational network, as there simply do not appear to be enough countries interested and willing at this point.
This could change, however, and it’s conceivable China could expand its global alliances and seek to increase the number of PRC-friendly countries interested in acquiring the J-35.
Nations with J-35’s
The list of possible J-35 partner nations seems quite thin at the moment, yet a J-35-armed Pakistan could put Chinese-aligned stealth power projection within range of much of the Middle East, something of concern to the U.S. and its allies.
Pakistan
Pakistan not only borders Iran but also has 658 miles of coastline along the Arabian Sea, so a maritime-capable Pakistani J-35 could introduce a 5th-gen stealth air threat directly into the Middle East.
Pakistani Navy
Pakistan does operate a Naval force consisting of a small number of submarines, corvettes, frigates, and small boats, yet none of them seem capable of launching a 5th-generation J-35 stealth aircraft from the ocean.
The J-35 was initially conceived of as a carrier-launched maritime 5th-generation aircraft, yet it appears the PLA AF has copied the U.S. strategy of engineer land and “sea” launched 5th-generation variants.
The PLA now operates a land-launched J-35A variant of its aircraft, so it is likely that this is the aircraft that will be sold to Pakistan. At the moment, Israel’s F-35I Adir appears to be the only 5th-generation stealth aircraft in the Middle East, yet a Pakistani J-35 with a range of 1,000 miles or more could rival the IDF in the region in the event of conflict.
A 5th-generation-capable Pakistan does make strategic sense for China, given its growing emphasis on exerting influence across the globe.
For example, China is building a large military base right near a U.S. military facility in Djibouti, Africa, on the Western part of the continent, closely bordering the Middle East, and the PRC has for years been seeking to expand its growing economic, political, and military influence in the region.
About the Author: Kris Osborn
Kris Osborn is a Military Technology Editor. Osborn is also President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Master’s Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
