Latest news with #FC-31
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan to get 40 more J-35 stealth jets soon: What are its capabilities and should India be concerned?
China will soon supply 40 J-35 stealth fighter jets to Pakistan, elevating the Pakistan Air Force into the elite league of fifth-generation aircraft operators. According to a government announcement, deliveries are expected to begin by the end of this year. This marks the first international export of the J-35, a platform still in its early stages of deployment even within China's own military. Pakistan will receive the FC-31 variant of the J-35. It's the land-based version designed for export and ground operations, distinct from the naval version meant for China's aircraft carriers. The model is equipped with an infrared search-and-track system mounted on its nose and can link with other weapon systems to share target data. Why It matters for India India currently has no fifth-generation stealth jet in its arsenal. That's a major concern, say defence analysts. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd.) told NDTV , "It is worrying news... any version of the J-35 in Pakistani colours is going to raise concerns for our side." While India enjoys superiority with its Rafale and Su-30MKI fighters, the arrival of stealth aircraft in Pakistan could narrow this gap significantly. Ahlawat added that India had considered acquiring either the F-35 or Russia's Su-57 but said, "These are bad choices. The only good choice is AMCA." J-35's capabilities: What we know so far The J-35, also called the J-35A, is China's second fifth-generation fighter after the J-20. Built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the jet made its public debut at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024 and later featured in model form at the 2025 Paris Air Show. Live Events This twin-engine, supersonic jet includes features such as an active electronically scanned array radar, an electro-optical targeting system, and a radar cross-section of just 0.001 square metres. That makes it nearly invisible to conventional radars, a capability on par with the U.S. F-35. China Daily reports that the aircraft can "share targets' position with other weapon systems" and can also use its radar to guide other munitions to those targets. Global Times quoted an unnamed expert who said the J-35 gives an advantage in "first detection, first strike," and in securing "operational advantages." China's design push: Inspired or stolen? What's stirred international interest is the J-35's uncanny resemblance to the American F-35 Lightning II. While analysts speculate on whether China borrowed design elements from stolen U.S. data, platforms like The War Zone have noted that copying the F-35 would be nearly impossible due to its complexity. In 2009, the U.S. government confirmed a cyber intrusion targeting its F-35 programme. Frank Kendall, then Pentagon acquisitions chief, admitted in a 2013 Senate hearing, 'I'm reasonably confident that classified information is safe, but not all confident about the unclassified information.' A year later, a Los Angeles grand jury indicted Su Bin, a Chinese businessman, for helping PLA hackers steal over 630,000 files relating to the F-22, F-35 and C-17 aircraft. A wake-up call for India's AMCA programme India's answer to the stealth gap is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the execution model in May, but the jet isn't expected to fly before 2035. Until then, experts are urging urgent upgrades to India's air surveillance and defence systems. India's current detection radars may struggle to pick up stealth aircraft like the J-35 until they are too close for comfort. China's ambitions: Mass production on the horizon Wang Yongqing, chief designer at the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute, told Global Times that the J-35A was created under an "air-sea twin configuration" and "one aircraft, multiple variants" model. This allows for faster development and cheaper production. "Many of our research achievements can be applied across different variants, such as sensors, onboard equipment, and avionics systems," he said. "This will correspondingly reduce future maintenance costs and improve logistical efficiency." Wang compared the J-35A's battlefield role to a basketball point guard: "The J-35A not only demonstrates outstanding 'scoring ability,' but also effectively coordinates other battlefield assets for joint operations." With Pakistan preparing to field a fifth-generation fleet and China ready to mass produce, India finds itself on the back foot. And the clock is ticking. The AMCA remains India's only viable option to restore parity. But the stealth gap is real — and it's already looming over the subcontinent.
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Why India Should Be Worried About Pak Getting Chinese J-35 Stealth Jets
New Delhi: In November 2024 China unveiled the J-35 - its second 5th generation stealth fighter. A twin-engine, single-seater supersonic jet for multirole missions, the J-35 boasts advanced avionics, including an active electronically scanned array, an electro-optical targeting system, and infrared search-and-track. The Global Times, the Chinese government's mouthpiece, described the J-35 - compared to the United States' F-35, the world's most expensive fighter jet - as functioning within a stealth and counter-stealth combat framework to gain and maintain air superiority, while eliminating air defence forces". And Pakistan, which also has 20 Chinese J-10C and JF-17 fighters, will reportedly buy 40 J-35s, with the first units expected later this year, pushing it into an elite club operating stealth fighter jets. Pak will get the toned-down FC-31 but it will still be a stealth jet and India has none. Why should India worry? Because India does not have a stealth fighter. Because Islamabad's purchase of 5th generation aircraft might shift the balance of air power, at least till Delhi can catch up. The J-35 is considered a 'black box' because of the lack of data on its capabilities, but its performance is seen as similar to, and even better than, the US' F-35. But the J-35 has never seen combat. Now, first-look images of the J-35, as the FC-31, surfaced in August 2024. There were two variants - a Navy one and another for conventional ground-based operations and export. The Shenyang J-35A on show in Beijing (File). Pak will likely get the second, which reportedly has the infrared search-and-track in its nose. The jet, China Daily said, can also 'share targets' position with other weapon systems, like surface-to-air missiles, and use its radar to guide other weapons to bring the targets down'. But the big feature here, of course, is the stealth capability. The J-35 reportedly has a radar cross-section of 0.001 sq m, which is comparable to the F-35, and which will make Pak's new fighter jet very difficult to detect in combat scenarios with India. This means India will take longer to detect the jets as it approaches the border. A prototype of India's new 5th-gen stealth fighter, the AMCA (File). There is another point of concern. With China and Pak both operating stealth fighters, India's air defences could come under severe pressure in the event of multi-front hostilities. This means Delhi must address the gap, starting with upgrading existing air defence systems and bring in 5th generation jets of its own, homemade or otherwise. J-35 buy shows chink in India's Armour? India does not have a 5th generation stealth fighter. This is under development - an 'execution model', under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme was cleared last month by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. NDTV Explains | Everything About India's New 5th-Generation Stealth Fighter But the AMCA jet will not patrol India's skies before 2035 at least. Between then and now India, aviation combat experts told NDTV, should be worried. The Indian Air Force has long had an edge over Pak when it comes to air superiority, an advantage emphasised by Delhi's recent acquisition of the French-made Rafales. By 2031 India will have 60+ Rafale fighter jets patroling skies above its land and seas (File). The J-35 deliveries (well, technically the FC-31) threaten to narrow that advantage. "It is worrying news," Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (retd.), a former fighter pilot, told NDTV, "... any version of the J-35 in Pakistani colours is going to raise concerns for our side." India did consider the purchase option; the F-35 and the Su-57 were on the table. However, these are "bad choices", Group Captain Ahlawat said. "The only good choice is AMCA," he said and called for a "national mission-mode push" to get it in service ASAP.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
China to supply J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets to Pakistan. How IAF veterans reacted: 'It's worrying news'
Several Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans have raised alarms over reports that China will supply Pakistan with 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets. Earlier this month, the government of Pakistan said in a social media post that it would acquire 40 J-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and HQ-19 ballistic missile defence systems, Bloomberg reported. The J-35 sale to Pakistan would mark China's first export of the fifth-generation jet, which has advanced stealth capabilities. The fighter jet was developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and publicly unveiled at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow. Group Captain (Retd.) Ajay Ahlawat, a former IAF fighter pilot and defence analyst, told NDTV that the development is not a surprise as Pakistani pilots have been training in China. "Pakistan receiving these jets is not a surprise at all because their team of nominated fighter pilots have been in China for more than six months," he told the news channel. Also Read | India's strike on air bases forced Pakistan to request ceasefire, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar admits "They were training on the type before they were inducted. It was reported that the version that China will give to Pakistan is the FC-31, a slightly toned-down version of the J-35, which is practised across the globe. Nobody gives the full version," he added. He further said that Pakistan receiving the J-35 is going to raise concerns in India. Also Read | Amid Iran-Israel war, Pakistan fears Baloch militants rise; Asim Munir raises alarm with Donald Trump "It's worrying news," Group Captain Ahlawat told NDTV. "Ever since independence, we have fought a very hard battle in the procurement sphere to retain an edge over at least Pakistan, if not China. And any version of J-35 in Pakistani colours is going to raise concerns on our side. It's concerning." Air Marshal (Retd.) Sanjeev Kapoor also acknowledged the challenge and said India needs to have its own indigenous platform. "As per news reports, the Pakistanis are likely to get 40 aircraft by December this year," he told NDTV. "Nine to 10 years is the official figure by the time we could induct AMCA (advanced medium combat aircraft). There is absolutely no doubt that we need to have our own indigenous platform. But as a nation, can we wait ten more years with adversaries on both sides acquiring more and better equipment?" Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the J-35 is a twin-engine stealth fighter intended to complement the larger J-20 and potentially operate from China's expanding fleet of aircraft carriers. An evolution of the FC-31 prototype showcased at the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow, the J-35 features stealth-enhancing elements such as a streamlined, faceted fuselage, angled vertical stabilisers, and internal weapons bays to minimise its radar signature.
NDTV
16 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
40 China J-35 Jets For Pak, India's 5th Gen Decade Away: IAF Veterans Weigh In
New Delhi: China will reportedly supply 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets to Pakistan. With the J-35 induction, Pakistan joins a small group of countries operating stealth technology. The Indian Air Force (IAF), which currently lacks any stealth fighters in operational service, is still at least a decade away from inducting its indigenous fifth-generation stealth aircraft - the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Official estimates place the AMCA's induction around 2035. NDTV spoke to senior IAF veterans for insight into the implications of this development and to assess India's operational preparedness to tackle fifth-generation stealth fighters. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd.), a former IAF fighter pilot and defence analyst, confirmed the developments with regard to Pakistani pilot training in China. "Pakistan receiving these jets is not a surprise at all because their team of nominated fighter pilots have been in China for more than six months," he said. "They were training on the type before they were inducted. It was reported that the version that China will give to Pakistan is the FC-31, a slightly toned-down version of the J-35, which is practised across the globe. Nobody gives the full version." The FC-31 is an export variant of the J-35 and is widely understood to possess reduced capability compared to the frontline aircraft serving the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF). "The only surprise element," Group Captain Ahlawat added, "is that they're coming a little ahead of schedule. That's the only surprise." The Indian Air Force has long maintained air superiority over Pakistan, based on superior training, tactics, and a more diversified inventory. The J-35 deliveries threaten to narrow that advantage. "It's worrying news," Group Captain Ahlawat said. "Ever since independence, we have fought a very hard battle in the procurement sphere to retain an edge over at least Pakistan, if not China. And any version of J-35 in Pakistani colours is going to raise concerns on our side. It's concerning." "Unfortunately, we have only two bad choices, the F-35 and the Su-57. The only good choice is the AMCA. The only way we can get past this problem is to give it a national mission-mode push and get it online as soon as we can." The AMCA, an ambitious twin-engine stealth fighter programme being developed by India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the air force and navy, is still in the early stages of development. Prototype roll-out is targeted for 2028-29, and full induction is not expected before 2035. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd.), who served in key planning roles within the IAF, acknowledged the seriousness of the challenge and offered an interim solution. "As per news reports, the Pakistanis are likely to get 40 aircraft by December this year," he told NDTV. "Nine to ten years is the official figure by the time we could induct AMCA. There is absolutely no doubt that we need to have our own indigenous platform. But as a nation, can we wait ten more years with adversaries on both sides acquiring more and better equipment?" Air Marshal Kapoor advocated for an off-the-shelf acquisition of Russian Sukhoi Su-57 jets in a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, similar to the Rafale deal, to bridge the capability gap. "The Su-57 has a lot of compatibility with our equipment, weapons, radars and other systems," he explained. "And in many parameters, it is better than the F-35. Both these aircraft flew in Aero India. I spoke to certain people who saw both performing. There's no doubt that F-35 is state-of-the-art. But Su-57 ticks more boxes in many ways." Air Marshal Kapoor suggested that such a deal should come with the transfer of technology and coding access to allow the integration of India's own DRDO-developed weapon systems. "With Russian support, we could build on this," he added. "Our aircrew and ground crew, until AMCA is ready, will gain valuable experience. Also, our AMCA design and development teams can draw lessons from operating a fifth-generation fighter in Indian conditions." Group Captain Ahlawat disagreed with this proposition. "I'm sorry. I'm going to completely and absolutely disagree with you," he said. "Transfer of Technology makes sense if we didn't have AMCA. It would make sense if we did not have the technology research cells. But we do." He cited the IAF's prior involvement in the now-aborted FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) programme with Russia, from which India withdrew after evaluating the Su-57's early iterations. "We were part of the Su-57 programme," Ahlawat noted. "We didn't like what we saw. We spent $350 million and we walked away. There is a lot we know about it, and we didn't like it. Russia doesn't have one full operational regiment of Su-57s. They haven't produced what they need for themselves. We're filling the gap before our own homegrown fighter gets airborne. We should go for something proven. It's a bad choice, but among the two bad choices, F-35 is the less bad choice."
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First Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- First Post
Can Pakistan afford China's J-35 fighter jets even at discounted rates, ask netizens
Chinese social media users have slammed their government's move to fast track delivery of 30 J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan at half the price, labelling it as 'financially and strategically reckless' read more Pakistan Air Force J-10C fighter jets perform at a rehearsal ahead of Pakistan's national day parade in Islamabad. Used for representational purposes | File image/AFP Chinese social media users have slammed their government's move to fast track delivery of 30 J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan at half the price, labelling it as 'financially and strategically reckless' According to a Times of India report, as per the deal, which marks China's first export of a fifth-generation combat aircraft, the deliveries will begin as early as August 2025. The decision, however, has left many Chinese citizens baffled and angry, especially as the J-35A, also known as the FC-31, is still undergoing testing and has not even yet been inducted into China's own air force, added the report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Pakistan has also made a lot of fake news. How can it afford to buy it? It hasn't even paid for the J-10,' ToI quoted a user, posting under the handle @Zhejiang from the Yingyang Medical School, as saying. The comment refers to Pakistan's pending payments for earlier J-10C fighter jets purchased from China. Another user under the name @CQL0530 criticised Beijing's production priorities, asked 'China's own production of the J-35 has not yet been built up. How can it be given to them?' Some users showed no restraint. 'Bullshit!' wrote one, as quoted by ET. The phrase '2 more powerful printers are coming,' shared by user Cracked Rose, was interpreted by some as a reference to the government printing more money, or jets, to fund the project. Timing of China-Pak deal draws criticism The announcement of China's deal to supply 30 J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan has faced scrutiny not only over the jet's readiness but also its timing. Coming just days after a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pahalgam, Indian analysts interpret the deal as China arming Pakistan amid escalating cross-border tensions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Within China, social media users are questioning whether the government is effectively subsidising a military client with limited financial capacity. 'It is more in your interest to spend money on building and purchasing industrial equipment and infra,' ToI quoted one commenter as writing. Concerns also focus on whether China is selling a 'concept jet'— a fighter still in development — presented as a finished product. Although the J-35 is designed to compete with US-made fighters like the F-35, it lacks combat experience or proven operational capabilities. High-risk gamble China previously promoted the J-10CE fighter jet, also supplied to Pakistan, as 'combat-tested,' citing Islamabad's claims that it shot down Indian Rafales during 'Operation Sindoor'. However, these claims remain unverified outside Pakistani media and have been met with skepticism. Attempts to export the J-10CE to countries like Egypt, Brazil, and Uzbekistan have so far been unsuccessful, reported Times of India. Experts attribute this to the jet's reliance on Russian engines — such as the RD-93 and AL-31— which are considered outdated and pose increasing risks amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain uncertainties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Times of India, citing reports, Pakistani pilots are already training in China to operate the J-35. However, the Chinese government has yet to release an official statement addressing the backlash or confirming details of the sale, added the report. While India is expected to closely monitor the situation, many in China are questioning who truly benefits from the deal. If finalised, Beijing may present it as a strategic effort to strengthen regional influence. Yet for many ordinary citizens, it increasingly appears to be a high-risk gamble — funded by Chinese taxpayers — on an unfinished aircraft sold to a buyer with a questionable credit history. With inputs from agencies
