(Adnkronos) – Everything is ready in China for the debut of the new Chinese fighter, the J-35A stealth, “invisible” to radar. An image of the aircraft was released during an Air Force press conference in Beijing, CNN reports, and the jet will be on display at the Air Show scheduled for November 12-17 in Zhuhai. The Chinese claim it was designed “primarily for air combat operations” and is also capable of launching “air-to-surface attacks.” They speak of “a new type of stealth jet independently developed by Avic (Aviation Industry Corporation of China).” But it is unclear when it might be deployed, nor where it will be deployed.
The People’s Republic continues with the modernization of the Armed Forces. Its ambitions on ‘invisible planes’ have been at the center of accusations for years, always rejected by the Asian giant. And, the Chinese say, when this jet becomes operational, China would become the second country in the world, after the US, to have two models of stealth aircraft. The J-20 has been in ‘service’ since 2017, according to statements at the time from the Asian giant.
With few details available on the new Chinese jet, Carl Schuster, former director of operations for the Joint Intelligence Center of the US Pacific Command, explained that the J-35A, in development for over ten years, is likely intended for the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army.
“The J-35 made its first flight in 2021, but as a derivative of a previous prototype, it could be ready for fabrication by early next year,” Schuster explained, quoted by CNN. And, he said, the J-35A is likely a ‘development’ of the previous model with more powerful engines.
