The first J-35A stealth fighter jet has officially joined the Chinese Air Force.
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation has delivered the first J-35A to the Chinese Air Force, marking the arrival of this new generation of multirole stealth fighter jets.
The J-35A is a medium-sized, multi-role stealth fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), which will officially enter service with the Chinese Air Force in 2026. This is a significant step in the modernization of the air force, creating a strategic complement to the heavy J-20 fighter series.
Specifications and variations on the set
Based on the published images, the J-35A variant for the air force is undergoing test flights at the production plant. The biggest visual difference between the naval and air force variants lies in the design of the landing gear system.
While the carrier-based version uses twin-wheeled forward landing gear with integrated catapults, the land-based J-35A uses a single-wheeled nose landing gear. This design optimizes weight and is suitable for operation at conventional military airfields, rather than requiring a catapult system on a ship.
History of development from the FC-31 platform.
The J-35 was developed from the FC-31 (Project 310) stealth fighter, a twin-engine design with a large, swept-back vertical tail fin. The first test prototype, numbered 350001, made its maiden flight on October 29, 2021, equipped with the domestically produced WS-21(H) engine.
The J-35 testing process was not limited to land-based missions but also involved deployments on both the Liaoning and Fujian (Type 003) aircraft carriers. This demonstrates China's ambition to build a unified stealth aircraft platform for both its Navy and Air Force.
Strategic role in the period 2040-2050
In the future, the J-35A is expected to become the main fighter jet, partially replacing the aging J-15 series and coordinating operations with the J-20. With its multi-role capabilities ranging from air combat to ground attack, the J-35A will help complete China's stealth aircraft ecosystem in the coming decades.
In addition, large-scale production of the land-based version is being accelerated to meet the urgent modernization needs of the Chinese Air Force, after this version begins service in 2025.
