China’s new J-35A stealth fighter has made a remarkable debut at Airshow China in the southern coastal city of Zhuhai. Equipped with a domestically developed engine and an innovative human-machine interaction design, the J-35A represents a significant advancement in the combat capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.
At a press conference during the airshow, Xie Peng, spokesperson for the PLA Air Force, highlighted the importance of the J-35A’s homegrown engine, emphasizing its role in enhancing the Air Force’s fighter aircraft fleet. “The J-35A, with its domestically developed engine, is an important addition to our capabilities,” Xie stated.
Air Force officer Li Lanxing shared insights from test flights, noting the aircraft’s high maneuverability and excellent handling. “Pilots have found the J-35A to be highly maneuverable, with user-friendly human-machine interaction, enabling full combat effectiveness,” Li said. He added that test flights are increasingly focused on real combat scenarios, with greater emphasis on operational effectiveness.
Wang Yongqing, chief expert at the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), spoke about the fighter jet’s robust joint combat capabilities. “The J-35A’s information and system architecture is designed for seamless interoperability, providing strong standalone combat capabilities and enabling coordination with other battlefield equipment,” Wang explained. “This opens up new possibilities for future missions.”
Unlike the J-20, a heavy stealth fighter designed mainly for air superiority, the J-35A is a medium-sized multi-role stealth fighter capable of both air superiority and strike missions against ground and maritime targets. Military expert Wang Mingzhi commented on how the two aircraft complement each other. “Together, the J-20 and J-35A feature both air superiority and multi-role capabilities, greatly enhancing the Air Force’s ability to conduct offensive operations in high-threat and contested environments,” he said in an interview.
“The successful development of the J-35A has enabled China to possess two types of stealth fighter jets, providing the Air Force with enhanced capabilities to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity,” Wang Mingzhi added.
The debut of the J-35A at Airshow China marks a significant milestone in the modernization of China’s military aviation, showcasing cutting-edge technology and advances in domestic aerospace engineering.
Reference(s):
China's J-35A jet boosts combat effectiveness with latest tech
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