What You Need to Know: At last week's Zhuhai Air Show, Beijing unveiled its much-anticipated J-35A stealth fighter jet. The J-35A will make China the second nation, after the United States, to operate two different fifth-generation stealth fighters when it joins the existing J-20.

-Designed to function as a "point guard" for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the J-35A shares similarities with the American F-35 but may not perform at the same level. Capable of various missions—including air superiority, air-to-air engagements, and intercepting enemy aircraft—it can also coordinate with the Chengdu J-20 in combat.

-Equipped to carry six air-to-air missiles and potentially powered by the new WS-19 engine for increased power, the J-35A is expected to enhance China's efforts to achieve air superiority. It is anticipated to operate from the Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, utilizing China's new electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), similar to the U.S. Navy's Ford-class carriers.

Inside the J-35A: What We Know About China's Latest Stealth Jet

Beijing’s most anticipated aircraft debuted at last week's Zhuhai Air Show. From sixth-generation fighters to lethal unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), this annual exhibition marks a significant milestone in China’s rise as a great aerial power. One new platform worthy of analysis is the J-35A, which will make China the second nation across the globe to operate two different fifth-gen stealth fighter jets when it is introduced and joins the existing J-20. 

According to its manufacturer, the J-35A will function as a “point guard” for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) air power.

J-35A vs. F-35A

Like the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the J-35 comes in the form of different variants to achieve various mission sets. A carrier-based version of the platform will complement the J-35A according to the chief expert at the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute. The JSF also comes in multiple variants, including the F-35A which is f conventional take-off and landing, the F-35B which can conduct short take-off and vertical landing, and the F-35 which is carrier-based.

What we know about the J-35A:

While the J-35A shares a similar name to the F-35, the Chinese fighter may not necessarily perform as well as its American counterpart. State-run news outlets in China have reported that the J-35A will be capable of taking part in missions ranging from air superiority and air-to-air engagements to intercepts of fighters and bombers and air defense against ground attacks and cruise missiles. Other Chinese experts have suggested that the upcoming fighter can coordinate with the Chengdu J-20 in combat.

Could the J-35A Outperform Its American Counterparts?

In addition to showcasing the new J-35A during the Zhuhai Air Show, Beijing also unveiled a new variant of its PL-15 air-to-air missile designed for stealth fighters to carry. Similar to the armament capacity of the Joint Strike Fighter, the upcoming Chinese jet will reportedly be able to take six air-to-air missiles in its weapons bays. 

In terms of power, Beijing has struggled with high-performance turbofan jet design and largely relies on Russian designs. However, if the J-35A is fitted with its newest WS-19 engine, it could provide the fighter with up to ten percent more power. 

"Never too sure about much except the shape of the airframe from these air shows," said Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute told Reuters. "The engines used are always a question."

Although the exact specs and details of the J-35A remain a mystery to the public, the fifth-generation fighter will undoubtedly contribute to Beijing’s effort to achieve air superiority over the U.S. when introduced. The Chinese jet is expected to operate from the Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier when in service, relying on China’s new electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which is similar to the U.S. Ford-class’s EMALS launch system.

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock 

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