Key Points and Summary – A critical analysis outlines five major weaknesses of China’s new J-35 stealth fighter. Its most significant flaw is that it is not combat-proven, unlike Israel’s F-35I which excelled against Iran.
-It also suffers from an unproven WS-19 engine that is inferior to the F-35’s “superior” 49,000lb-thrust F135.
J-35 Stealth Fighter from China. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
J-35B Government Handout Photo.
-Furthermore, the J-35 is not a “flying computer,” as it lacks the sophisticated sensor fusion, “learning” mission data files, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities of its American rivals.
-Finally, it is hampered by an unproven logistics and production system, in contrast to the F-35’s global, 19-nation support network.
Five Weaknesses of China’s J-35 Stealth Fighter
China may have a hit on their hands with their second fifth-generation jet – the J-35. There are two effective variants of the J-35.
There is an aircraft carrier capable version and a land-based model called the J-35A. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is excited about the naval version’s ability to fly off carriers.
This gives the PLAN a significant advantage in projecting power overseas and matches the U.S. Navy’s F-35C in some respects.
However, the J-35 has several weaknesses.
Let’s take a closer look: the Chinese air force and navy have poured vast resources into the J-35 and aim to pair it with the J-20 for an effective one-two punch in stealth flight.
There will be one of the few countries with two fifth-generation fighters, even though both aircraft have shortcomings.
No Combat, No Dice
Like the J-20, the J-35 is not combat-proven.
The J-35 is a new airplane, and pilots are still working out the kinks.
They are rarely pushing the airplane in a way that would simulate real combat. There is no substitute for the real thing.
The J-35 is not as combat-tested as the F-35. The Israelis have used their F-35I Adir variant in real conflict, especially during the latest 12-day war against Iran, when F-35Is snuck past enemy radar and air defenses to deliver a substantial load of munitions that destroyed Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
J-35A Fighter at Le Bourget Air Show. Image Credit: Author/National Security Journal.
The J-35 cannot match the F-35A in combat performance, and the pilots on the American F-22 are also better and more experienced.
While the F-22 has no dog-fighting feats, it can operate with more stealth, which would give it an advantage in combat.
Engine Troubles That Make the Powerplant Less Viable
The J-35 also has an unproven engine.
The WS-19 engine is still being pushed through its paces. The Pratt & Whitney F135 on board the F-35 is superior to the WS-19. The F135 has an enormous 49,000 pounds of thrust.
The F135 has been going strong for years and is combat-tested even in the harsh, dusty elements of the Middle East and South Asia.
The F135 engine also has a range of 1,300 miles.
The F135 is also much more versatile than the WS-19.
It has demonstrated strong performance in the F-35B short-vertical-landing and take-off model and in the F-35C naval version for aircraft carrier operations.
The J-35 Is No ‘Flying Computer’
The J-35 is not a “flying computer” like the F-35. It does not have the sensor fusion and effective software that is onboard the F-22.
Meanwhile, the F-35 can use updatable mission data files that are updated after each sortie based on lessons learned from the prior flight. The J-35 just does not have the kind of computer and software power of the F-35 and F-22.
Fire Control System and Data Collection are Less Capable
The J-35 also lacks targeting systems and search-and-track capabilities. These fire-control aspects make the J-35 a less capable dogfighter.
The J-35 software and avionics are unable to acquire intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data like the F-35 and send this information back to the home base for transfer to the mission files.
The F-35 and F-22 have better electronic warfare ability, too.
The United States Is Used to Having an International Logistical Network
The PLAAF and PLAN do not have sufficient logistical support for their aircraft.
The Americans have experience with a support architecture that can better update their airplanes. Since the F-35 is collecting so much data, the aircraft can be significantly improved with strong backing from the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
The F-35 has a national and even international supply chain.
Americans who supply the F-35 program are more experienced and highly skilled than their Chinese counterparts.
Another aspect of the F-35 that is better than the J-35 is the international exportability.
The F-35 has 19 countries in a global operation partnership. This shows that the F-35 is a stronger airplane since it is so popular overseas.
It is unclear whether the Chinese wish to export the J-35 (Pakistan could be a customer). While the air force has been able to send the J-10C to international customers, this is a less sophisticated fourth-generation fighter. It remains to be seen if the Chinese can produce the J-35 in numbers and have the efficiencies and economies of scale that the F-35 has.
Thus, the J-35 is strong on paper but has much to prove in real action. This is one of the program’s drawbacks.
The engine is still working through testing and evaluation. The airplane itself has no combat experience.
The J-35 is a weaker aircraft than Israel’s F-35I. The J-35 can only hope to be as effective in wartime. Pilots are untested and must rehearse carrier take-offs and landings before they can be as strong as American aviators who have been flying F-35Cs off carriers for an extended period.
The J-35 still has significant potential besides these weak points. I like the naval version. The engines are not the airplane’s strong suit, though. The F-35 has a better logistical system in place.
The J-35 has a lower level of practical software, avionics, search and track, and electronic warfare.
The Chinese have much to improve on with the J-35, but they still have time to address the downsides.
We will see how this stealth fighter performs in the future.
Having air force and naval variants makes it like the F-35 in terms of diversity, and this could be its strongest point.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
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 US 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 US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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