J-35A Set to Dominate Skies with Kill Chain Synergy—Pakistan Gears Up for Fifth-Gen Edge Over India

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The announcement, made through China Daily recently and attributed to Wang Yongqing, a leading aircraft designer at the state-run Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), emphasized that the J-35A is optimized to intercept stealth aircraft and low-observable cruise missiles—both considered among the most challenging threats to modern integrated air defence systems.

According to Wang, “The J-35A can lock onto targets, share target data with other weapon systems like surface-to-air missiles, and even guide those weapons using its own radar,” showcasing its utility as both a stealth hunter and a force multiplier across air, land, and maritime domains.

This evolution signals a dramatic shift in how the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) intends to conduct operations in contested environments, with the J-35A not simply replacing older platforms but reengineering the entire structure of Chinese air defence kill chains.

The kill chain concept involves multiple steps—“find, fix, track, target, engage, assess”—and the J-35A serves as an enabler across all these phases through sensor fusion, low observability, long-range targeting, and networked communications with airborne and ground-based assets.

Wang’s assertion that the J-35A will serve as the “backbone” of China’s future fighter fleet—rather than a primarily export-oriented platform—reflects the seriousness with which Beijing views the platform as a cornerstone of its future deterrence and warfighting capabilities.

However, in a significant geopolitical twist that elevates the strategic calculus beyond China’s own air defence needs, Pakistan has reportedly signed a deal to acquire 40 J-35A fighters, with deliveries expected to begin “in a few months”.