IAF Veterans Sound Alarm Over Reports of Pakistan Acquiring China’s J-35 Stealth Jets

Several Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans have expressed serious concerns over reports that China is set to supply Pakistan with 40 J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, potentially altering the regional air power balance.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Pakistan’s government announced earlier this month via social media that it would acquire 40 J-35 stealth jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and HQ-19 ballistic missile defence systems from China.

The reported J-35 deal, if finalized, would mark China’s first export of its fifth-generation fighter jet, which is designed with advanced stealth features and modern avionics. Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the J-35 was publicly unveiled during the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow.

IAF Veterans Express Concerns

Group Captain (Retd.) Ajay Ahlawat, a former IAF fighter pilot and defence analyst, told NDTV that the development was expected, given that Pakistani pilots have already 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 said. “They were training on the type before induction. It’s reported that the version China will provide is the FC-31, a slightly downgraded version of the J-35. Globally, no country exports its top variant.”

He added that even a toned-down version of the J-35 in Pakistani service is cause for concern. “It’s worrying news. India has always strived to maintain an edge over Pakistan in defence procurement. The presence of any J-35 variant in Pakistan’s inventory is bound to raise alarms on our side,” he said.

Air Marshal (Retd.) Sanjeev Kapoor echoed the concern and emphasized the urgent need for India to accelerate its indigenous fighter development.

“As per reports, Pakistan may receive 40 aircraft by December this year,” Kapoor told NDTV. “Meanwhile, India’s AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) is officially expected to enter service only after nine to ten years. We cannot afford to wait that long, especially with increasingly advanced threats from both China and Pakistan.”

About the J-35

The J-35 is a twin-engine fifth-generation stealth fighter designed to complement China’s J-20 and potentially serve on its aircraft carriers. Evolved from the earlier FC-31 prototype, the aircraft features stealth-optimized design elements such as internal weapons bays, angled tail fins, and a faceted fuselage to reduce radar cross-section.