China’s Sale of 40 J-35 Stealth Jets to Pakistan Raises Alarms Among Indian Defence Experts

Several Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans have voiced serious concern over reports that China is set to supply Pakistan with 40 Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, along with KJ-500 AWACS and HQ-19 missile defence systems. This would mark China’s first export of the J-35, which boasts advanced stealth capabilities.

According to Bloomberg, Pakistani pilots have already been training on the aircraft in China, and the country is expected to receive the jets by December 2025. Group Captain (Retd.) Ajay Ahlawat confirmed that Pakistan will likely get a toned-down FC-31 variant rather than the full J-35.

Air Marshal (Retd.) Sanjeev Kapoor stressed the urgent need for India to expedite its own indigenous fighter programme, the AMCA, which may take up to a decade for induction.

The J-35, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, is a twin-engine stealth fighter with carrier capability, designed as a complement to China’s J-20.