China’s J-35A: Unveiling the Secrets of the Stealth Multirole Fighter Designed for Air Supremacy

China's J-35A stealth fighter jet made its first flight performance and presented dazzling stunts at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai City, south China's Guangdong Province, on Nov. 12, 2024. #J35A #shockdiamonds #珠海航展 #歼35A #马赫环 pic.twitter.com/uiFHGrvEPN

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The centerpiece of this show, as described by Reuters, is China's new J-35A stealth fighter jet. This plane, in development for more than ten years, remains very mysterious. Until now, little was known about his abilities, and this is his very first public appearance.

The second country, with the United States, to have two stealth fighters

In addition to this very first appearance, Reuters also specifies that the presentation of the J-35A could also include a flight demonstration. This model, like its variant, the J-35, are designed and built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

While this presentation suggests that J-35A development has reached maturity, Nikkei Asia, a business daily, explains that when the model enters service, it will make China the “second country after its American rival to be equipped with two stealth fighters” in addition to the J-20 deployed since 2017.

The United States has the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II from Lockheed Martin. According to several media, the J-35 A would have a design similar to the American F-35. However, as Reuters specifies, we do not yet know “whether the J-35 models have special coatings that absorb radar waves” like the American plane.

A machine designed to be navalized

As Reuters relays, People's Dailywhich is a Chinese state media outlet, said before the show that the J-35 A has the mission of “conquer and maintain air supremacy”. Indeed, according to RFI, the versatile stealth fighter would be “equipped with an Emals system, intended for electromagnetic catapults” of certain aircraft carriers, and therefore be designed to be navalized.

Important information since the American press agency recalls that Beijing competes with Washington for military domination around Taiwan and the South China Sea. This position is indeed a “major strategic priority” for China. This device and its variant are, for this reason, closely scrutinized by foreign military attachés and security analysts.