In a significant development that may alter the balance of airpower in South Asia, reports indicate that Beijing is expediting the delivery of its advanced stealth fighter, the J-35A, to its longstanding ally Pakistan. Islamabad is now anticipated to receive its initial shipment as soon as the first quarter of 2026.
Senior officials from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have indicated that China has accelerated the transfer of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation’s fifth-generation fighter by six months. This adjustment in the timeline is largely seen as a reaction to escalating regional tensions and a strategic move to enhance Pakistan’s aerial defense capabilities.
J-35 full production will start soon, I do hope our friends in Pakistan will get them.
The stealth fighter can lurk on the border undetected.
As Pakistani AWACS detect the indian fighters, J-35 can penetrate into Indian airspace, and create a kill zone over India.
J-35s can… pic.twitter.com/YMyq87PORh
— Zhao DaShuai 东北进修🇨🇳 (@zhao_dashuai) May 17, 2025
According to sources, with the revised delivery schedule, Pakistan is set to receive its first batch of these advanced stealth fighters in early 2026, rather than the previously planned late 2026. This change highlights the urgency of the defense collaboration between the two nations. Although these developments have not yet been officially confirmed by Islamabad, the PAF, or SAC, the increasing reports suggest that Pakistan is on the verge of a significant upgrade in its air combat capabilities.
Initial reports from late 2024 had disclosed Pakistan’s intention to acquire 40 J-35A stealth fighters, marking the first known export of a fifth-generation fighter from China, a significant achievement for Beijing as it seeks to establish itself as a leading global defense exporter. The announcement of this deal closely followed a notable visit to Islamabad by General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, who engaged in private discussions with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir.
In April, speculation intensified when PAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar visited Beijing, where official Chinese media later confirmed his meeting with Defence Minister Dong Jun on April 8.
According to Global Times, the discussion centered on enhancing strategic military collaboration between the two nations, set against a backdrop of increasingly intricate regional security challenges, including India’s airpower modernization and the shifting Indo-Pacific landscape.
If the J-35A is delivered as planned, it could shift the regional airpower dynamics in favor of Pakistan, particularly as India continues to depend on older platforms like the Su-30MKI and the newer, yet non-stealth Rafale, which do not possess the fifth-generation capabilities of China’s latest fighter.
The Pakistan Air Force indicated its interest in acquiring the J-35A as early as 2024, a decision seen as part of Islamabad’s broader strategy to achieve air parity with India’s quantitative and qualitative advantages.
In a notable statement that year, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer remarked, ‘Discussions have occurred regarding the procurement of the J-35A, which will soon be integrated into the Pakistan Air Force.’ Subsequent reports from Pakistani media have suggested that a group of PAF pilots has already been sent to China for operational conversion training on the J-35A platform, providing concrete evidence of Pakistan’s progress towards fifth-generation airpower capabilities.
The J-35A is central to China’s strategy to undermine U.S. and allied air superiority by deploying adaptable, stealth-capable fighters designed for advanced warfare in contested electromagnetic environments.
Designed as a single-seat, twin-engine stealth fighter, the J-35A integrates cutting-edge avionics, a low-observable structure, and real-time battlefield connectivity, positioning it at the forefront of Beijing’s ambition for multi-domain dominance. It is crafted to function as a networked battlespace coordinator, identifying enemy targets, relaying targeting information to other systems like surface-to-air missile batteries, and directing long-range munitions to neutralize threats such as stealth fighters and low-RCS cruise missiles.
This development signifies a strategic shift in Chinese military aviation, focused on deploying a cost-effective yet formidable fleet to eventually succeed aging legacy aircraft like the J-7, J-8, and earlier J-10 models. Alongside the land-based J-35A, the J-35 carrier variant is designed for operations on PLA Navy aircraft carriers, showcasing the aircraft’s adaptability within China’s integrated military framework.
The J-35A emphasizes agility, radar avoidance, and operational range across theaters. Its sleek fuselage, carefully shaped surfaces, and distinctive V-tail design minimize radar visibility and aerodynamic resistance, improving both stealth capabilities and maneuverability. In contrast to the forward-canard J-20, the J-35A employs a traditional horizontal stabilizer configuration with angled vertical stabilizers, achieving a balance between stealth design and aerodynamic performance.
The twin-engine design offers both thrust redundancy and improved acceleration, presenting advantages over single-engine models such as the F-35, although it results in slight increases in radar signature due to its larger airframe. Stealth capabilities are enhanced through the extensive application of radar-absorbent materials (RAM), serrated skin panel interfaces, and a low-observable exhaust system that minimizes both infrared and radar visibility. The J-35A can maintain its low radar cross-section (RCS) profile while carrying long-range air-to-air missiles like the PL-17, which are intended for neutralizing high-value targets deep within contested airspace.
Its avionics feature a state-of-the-art Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, chin-mounted electro-optical/infrared sensors similar to the F-35’s EOTS, and distributed aperture systems that ensure comprehensive situational awareness. The cockpit is equipped with a wide-angle holographic heads-up display (HUD), likely supplemented by helmet-mounted displays, and a fully integrated glass avionics suite that supports seamless data fusion and multi-domain combat operations.
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