China has a new stealth fighter jet – and it looks exactly like the US F-35A.

Development of the J-35A, which debuted at the Zhuhai Airshow in China, took years.

The debut came a day after the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The J-35 also has a variant, known as the J-35A, designed for use with Chinese aircraft carriers.

The six-day China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition runs from November 12 to 17 at the country’s largest civil and military air show in Zhuhai, southern China. Great Bay.

Developing domestic aerospace design and manufacturing capabilities is a major strategic priority for Beijing as it vies for regional military dominance with the United States amid escalating tensions over Taiwan and the China Sea southern.

China is also seeking to reduce its dependence on foreign imports, a concern confirmed after the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, who has come out in favor of increased tariffs and decoupling of supply chains of the world’s second largest economy.

But how does the J-35A compare to the American F-35A and the Russian SU-57?

Let’s take a closer look:

What do we know about the J-35A?

The PLAAF described the J-35A as a “medium-sized stealth multi-role fighter.”

It uses airstrips for takeoff and landing.

According to Eurasian time, the J-35A is
modeled on the F-35A regarding the layout of its cockpit and its canopy, which offer its pilots better visibility.

It also features reinforced landing gear and foldable outer wing panels to improve performance on load-bearing decks, as well as an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for superior airborne awareness. situation.

The J-35 and J-35A are designed and built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a unit of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

Both variants of the J-35 are considerably smaller than China’s other stealth aircraft, the J-20 land-based fighter. An estimated 200 J-20s are operational with the PLAAF.

The J-35 program follows China’s J-31 fighter, which made its public debut at the 2014 Zhuhai air show.

However, it was never used by the People’s Liberation Army or sold to foreign customers.

Although it takes flight more than 10 years after its ancestor, the J-31, made its first flight, few details are public about the J-35’s performance or stealth, according to military analysts.

“Because of the black box that typically surrounds PLA miltech developments, we won’t be too sure about the J-35’s performance,” said Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore.

“The PRC scientists…”I have conducted various STEM and advanced studies over the years related to fighter jet technology, including stealth, so I would suggest not joining the skeptics in dismissing out of hand the plane,” Koh said.

State control People’s Daily The media outlet said before the air show that the J-35A “primarily performs the task of seizing and maintaining air supremacy.”

China has struggled to design high-performance turbofan engines, relying on Russian technology for early versions of its domestic fighters.

But the J-31 used Chinese-designed WS-13 engines and the J-35A could be equipped with the more advanced WS-19, analysts say, which is potentially up to 10% more powerful.

Engine technology is essential for advanced fighters because efficiency means greater range, the ability to carry more equipment and weapons, and higher speeds.

“I’m never too sure of much except the shape of the airframe at these airshows,” said Peter Layton, a defense and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute.

“The engines used are always a question.”

Wang Yongqing, a senior expert from Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, said Reuters that the J-35A plays a “leader” role in Chinese air power, just like the “quarterback” function of the F-35A in the American forces.

“He not only has a strong ability to score points, but also clearly assesses the situation,” Wang said.

The Pentagon also described its F-35A as its “quarterback”.

“It’s the quarterback of the entire fight,” Maj. Gen. Gina Sabric, commander of the 10th Air Force, said, as quoted by Business Insider in September.

World Time in a report it is said: “The aircraft could enhance the country’s integrated combat capabilities. »

“The J-35A operates in both stealth and counter-stealth combat settings. Its mission focuses on acquiring and maintaining air superiority, eliminating hostile fourth- and fifth-generation combat aircraft and ground/surface air defense forces, and intercepting hostile air targets, including fighters, bombers and cruise missiles,” he said.

How does it compare to the Russian F-35A and SU-57?

We don’t know exactly yet.

The J-35A appears superficially similar to the Lockheed Martin F-35A, whose shape, from fuselage to control surfaces, is designed to minimize its size on radar.

It is not publicly known whether J-35 models have special radar-absorbing coatings, as the F-35A does, or whether communications and radar systems are difficult to detect.

However, the F-35A, a
fifth generation fighteris considered the most advanced multi-role combat aircraft in the world.

Nine countries – United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia – participated in its development.

The Lockheed Martin website states: “The F-35A brings a decisive advantage to the battlespace, providing an asymmetric advantage across the entire multi-domain spectrum. The F-35A’s transformational capabilities allow pilots to operate in any environment, against any threat.

It is a single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft.

It is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 – the world’s most powerful combat engine – and has a top speed of Mach 1.6.

It is a long-range supersonic fighter with a full complement of internal weapons and fuel.

The F-35A’s electronic sensors include the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) – which gives pilots situational awareness for missile warning, aircraft warning and day/day pilot vision. night.

The F-35A also comes with an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).

This system, mounted internally, allows the combat aircraft to increase its detection range and strike accuracy against ground targets as well as its long-range detection of aerial threats.

The F-35A’s helmet-mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35A pilot needs to accomplish the mission is displayed on the helmet visor.

According to Eurasian time, Russia’s SU-57, also known as the “Felon”, is its most advanced frontline aircraft.

Manufactured at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft factory in the Russian Far East, the sophisticated fighter jet is the first aircraft produced by Russia since the end of the Cold War.

However, Russia has only managed to manufacture fewer than 40 SU-57s since its first flight in 2010.

Only one SU-57 is currently operational within the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Felon still uses the Russian Saturn AL-41F1 afterburner turbojet.

Indeed, Russia failed to install the new stealth-optimized Saturn AL-51 engine in the SU-57.

The SU-57 can hit air, land and naval targets and reach supersonic cruising speed.

It is believed to have the most advanced on-board radio electronic equipment, including a powerful on-board computer known as the second electronic pilot.

Its radar system is distributed across its body, while its arms are inside the fuselage.

Its AI system can also pilot the plane and configure the use of weapons.

Foreign military attachés and security analysts are closely monitoring the evolution of J-35 variants, given their importance to Beijing’s aircraft carrier program.

Although China’s three carriers remain in training and development mode and have yet to mount long-range operations beyond East Asia, a successful J-35 variant is expected to be an element key to the PLA Navy’s ability to project power beyond its home waters. years to come.

With the contribution of agencies