Big tension for India as Pakistan racing ahead of India in air supremacy, to acquire J-35 stealth fighter jet from China, its capable of…

Pakistan is engaged in a frantic race to outmatch and outgun India in aerial firepower, that includes measures like modernizing the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and acquiring latest 5th generation fighter jets, such as J-35 stealth fighter from China. According to reports, the PAF has inked a deal to acquire 40 J-35 fighter jets, which will be delivered within the next two years.

In January 2024, PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu had stated that the “foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid”, and the Chinese-made stealth fighter would join the PAF fleet “in the near future”. Experts believe Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-35 warplane would give it superiority over the Indian Air Force (IAF) in terms of firepower and aerial supremacy.

Let us delve into the capabilities, features, and other details of J-35 fighter

J-35 features, capabilities

The Shenyang J-35 is a 5th generation, twin-engine stealth multirole combat aircraft manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), designed for air superiority and surface strike missions. As per details, the J-35 comes in two variants, a land-based variant for the Chinese Army, and a carrier-based variant optimized for catapult-assisted takeoff (CATOBAR) for the Navy.

Unveiled during the Zhuhai Air Show in November this year, the J-35 is reportedly a more advanced and “production-ready” iteration of the earlier FC-31 model. China’s 5th-gen combat plane bears striking similarities with the US-made F-35 Lightning II.

According to experts, compared to the the FC-31 or J-31, the J-35 is powered by more powerful WS-19 engines, features a more sophisticated radar system, and improved sensor fusion. The aircraft boasts other advanced features, including improved aerodynamics and stealth capabilities, and a wider range of weapons.

Squadron Leader Vijainder K. Thakur (retd), an IAF veteran and military expert, notes that PAF’s acquisition of the J-35 will provide a significant boost to its offensive capabilities, and combined with F-16 and J-10C, the J-35’s land-attack variant would provide Pakistan an edge over India, according to the Eurasian Times.

India, Pakistan race for air supremacy

Meanwhile, India is  at least a decade away from acquiring a 5th-gen stealth combat jet, with its AMCA, unlikely to be inducted in the IAF before 2034. Additionally, at present, only three nations have operational fifth-generation fighters — US, Russia, and China, so realistically, acquiring the Su-57 Felon or the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet from Russia or United States, are the only two options for India to acquire a 5th-gen aircraft.

However, so far, the US has not explicitly stated that it would be open to selling the F-35 to India, because India buys a large amount armaments from Russia, including the S-400 air defense system.

Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-35 stealth fighter would be the first instance of China exporting its fifth-generation combat aircraft to a foreign ally, and will give PAF a clear edge over its Indian counterpart in terms of advanced capabilities and aerial firepower.

India and Pakistan have been engaged in a race to stay ahead of each other in combat aircraft since the 1950s when the two rival nations started building their air power.