New Chinese stealth fighter part of Beijing's plan to match US air power

China recently publicly showcased its highly anticipated new stealth fighter jet, a move seen as a significant step by Beijing to catch up with the advanced fighter capabilities of the United States. This land-based fighter, named the J-35A, made its first public appearance at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China, attracting widespread attention.

According to a Chinese military-related media report, the fighter jet is "primarily used for air combat operations and can also perform air-to-ground attack missions." If this fighter enters service, China would become the second country after the United States to possess two types of stealth fighters, according to expert opinions cited by Chinese state media. China's J-20 stealth fighter previously began service in 2017.

Stealth fighters are those designed to evade radar and other surveillance methods, allowing them to perform missions without being detected or intercepted. Chinese military expert Li Li stated in an interview with CCTV that the J-35 is likely to be designed as a series and may also be used as a carrier-based aircraft in the future. She believes this will "greatly enhance China's overall sea and air combat capabilities."

Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, stated that the development of the J-35A has taken more than 10 years and that it is likely designed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. Schuster also noted that "the J-35 first flew in 2021, but as a derivative of an earlier prototype, it could be ready for production by early next year," adding that the J-35A model may have been improved based on the early design and adopted a more powerful engine.

For years, China's development of stealth fighters has been subject to accusations of stealing key U.S. stealth fighter technology. Beijing has strongly denied such accusations. These accusations stem from documents allegedly from U.S. National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, published by the German magazine Der Spiegel in 2015.