China has reportedly finalized the sale of the new stealth fighter jet Shenyang J-35A to the Pakistan Air Force

Defence affairs - zona militar

The news was revealed by Pakistani government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to specialized media outlets, stating that this deal represents another step forward in defense cooperation with the Asian giant.

Although no official confirmation has been issued by either side, the contacted officials said they expect the first aircraft to arrive within the “coming months,” while withholding details regarding the number of jets allegedly acquired. It was also reported that a group of Pakistani pilots is already in China to undergo training on the new fifth-generation stealth platform, further reinforcing the idea that the J-35s may soon be inducted into the force.

To shed light on some of the uncertainties surrounding the potential deal, prior reports from Janes indicated that the new Chinese stealth jets would be equipped with advanced PL-17 air-to-air missiles, giving them substantial long-range strike capability—estimated at around 400 kilometers. Regarding quantities, the same outlet previously reported that the Pakistan Air Force was aiming to acquire between 30 and 40 J-35 aircraft, though, like other details, this has yet to be confirmed through official channels.

Additionally, if these indicators prove accurate, it would be reasonable to assume that the Chinese Air Force has also begun incorporating the Shenyang-produced fighter into its own fleet. The platform was officially unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow late last year, drawing considerable attention alongside Russia’s Su-57 and a scale model of China’s earlier stealth fighter, the J-20—the first of its kind produced domestically.

Along similar lines, it is also worth noting that J-35 mockups have been repeatedly spotted aboard Chinese Navy aircraft carriers, signaling that this platform will form part of the institution’s future carrier-based aviation. This is particularly noteworthy as the country continues its sea trials with the Fujian (003) aircraft carrier and works to expand its carrier fleet. For now, China’s primary carrier-based fighters remain various versions of the J-15 and the newly developed J-16 electronic warfare aircraft.