Chinese state media has publicly revealed the export version of the low-observable Shenyang J-35A fighter for the first time. The aircraft represents China’s second fifth-generation fighter designed for operations from land-based airfields. The aircraft, carrying the serial number “001,” was shown while being moved out of a hangar. The fuselage displayed the logo of AVIC, China’s largest military aviation manufacturer, rather than markings associated with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
The export variant, designated J-35AE, is equipped with an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) featuring a specialized coating. This suggests an emphasis on advanced sensor integration and improved resistance to infrared tracking, laser interference, and multispectral detection methods. The sensor is mounted beneath the nose section and externally resembles the EOTS configuration used on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, indicating that it may serve comparable targeting and situational awareness functions.
According to Hong Kong-based military analyst Liang Guoliang, the first potential buyer of the Shenyang J-35A export variant, designated J-35AE, could be Pakistan. This assessment is partly supported by a photograph released by AVIC last year, showing a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot undergoing training in the cockpit of the J-35A. Speculation suggests that countries in the Middle East may follow with additional procurement decisions at a later stage.
The J-35 is often described as China’s counterpart to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. It is China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter after the J-20 family. The J-35A was first publicly unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024 as a land-based variant intended for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), while the J-35 is designed for naval aviation and aircraft carrier operations.
According to the South China Morning Post, Pakistan has allegedly signed an agreement with China to purchase 40 Shenyang J-35A aircraft, following an offer from Beijing that reportedly includes a broader defence package. This package is said to cover airborne early warning and control aircraft such as the KJ-500, as well as missile defence systems including the HQ-19. If confirmed, this would represent the first export of a Chinese low-observable (stealth) fighter aircraft. So far, only two fifth-generation fighters have been exported globally: the American Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, operated by multiple air forces worldwide, and the Russian Su-57, with limited export deliveries reported.
Chinese-made systems already play a significant role in Pakistan’s military modernisation. The Pakistan Air Force operates Chengdu J-10 fighters and the jointly produced JF-17 Thunder, reflecting a long-standing defence cooperation between the two countries.
In September 2025, China became the first country to launch a stealth fighter from an aircraft carrier using an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
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Source: theaviationgeekclub
