CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Zhuhai Airshow has officially commenced this week, prominently featuring China’s J-35A fifth-generation fighter and the J-15T fighter, which is specialized for catapult operations on aircraft carriers. This event serves as a platform for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to reveal new military technologies and advancements, with the J-35A adorned in the markings of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) making its debut.
With the introduction of the J-35A alongside the already operational J-20, China has become the second nation, following the United States, to operate two distinct fifth-generation stealth fighters. Observers have noted that the formal adoption of the J-35A by the PLAAF was anticipated due to previous indications of procurement over the past year. Military analyst Rick Joe commented on the development, mentioning that while three prototypes of the J-35A have been displayed, their variations lead him to believe they may not yet be fully operational in frontline scenarios. However, he suggested that the PLAAF might be conducting initial operational testing with these aircraft, equipped currently with WS21 turbojets, pending future upgrades to the WS19 engine.
The J-35A, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, is intended for deployment on the PLA Navy’s aircraft carriers, complementing China’s broader naval aviation capabilities. Meanwhile, the J-20, another stealth fighter manufactured by Chengdu, has likely surpassed a production milestone of 300 aircraft. During the airshow, the J-20 showcased its flight capabilities as in previous years.
In a significant development, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) unveiled a mock-up of the twin-seat J-20S for the first time at the Zhuhai Airshow. This aircraft is noteworthy as the first twin-seat stealth fighter globally and is expected to facilitate manned-unmanned teaming, allowing the backseat operator to control drones. AVIC spokesperson Wu Jiwei highlighted the J-20S’s design for long-range operations, emphasizing its advanced multifunction capabilities, including air superiority, precision strikes, and electronic warfare.
The internal weapons bay of the J-35A is thought to be comparable in size to that of the J-20, with the recently exhibited PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile expected to arm both fighter models. This new missile features an innovative design with folding tails, allowing for a more compact storage solution and potentially enabling a higher missile load per aircraft.
At the airshow, the J-15T, tailored for carrier operations and equipped with a catapult towbar, made its debut, highlighting advancements in the PLA Navy’s aviation endeavors. Additionally, the electronic warfare variant of the J-15, known as the J-15D, was showcased as a counterpart to the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler.
AVIC also generated excitement with a full-scale mock-up of a conceptual sixth-generation fighter at the event, though details regarding future capabilities remain speculative given the organization’s typically secretive design processes. This display has sparked considerable interest, although it may not provide genuine insight into the direction of China’s next-generation fighter development.
