Pakistan Air Force Says It Signed Initial Agreement to Buy China’s J-35s

Pakistan and the US factor as China looks to sell its J-35 stealth jets

Pakistan’s air force says it has signed an “initial collaborative agreement” to buy China’s J-35 stealth fighter, although it has not disclosed details of the arrangement.

The development comes as Pakistan is also linked to a US$686 million upgrade deal for its F-16 fighter jets. The United States published the fine print of that agreement last month.

Two fighter arrangements

The US deal covers data link systems, new encryption gear and a refit intended to keep the F-16s flying until 2040. The notice says Pakistan can protect the technology to “substantially the same degree” as the US government.

That protection clause is important because the J-35 is a stealth fighter and represents a generational leap in technology, according to the source material. The overlap between the two arrangements raises a question about whether China would risk exposing its stealth technology to US monitors.

The Pakistan Air Force is the only declared interested buyer of China’s J-35 stealth fighter. The source describes Pakistan as wanting to buy J-35s while maintaining an existing relationship involving US F-16 upgrades.

China’s pitch for the J-35

Aviation Industry Corporation of China, or AVIC, has been pitching the J-35 as a cheaper F-35, America’s stealth fighter jet. The Chinese aircraft first flew at the Zhuhai air show in 2024.

It may appear again when the biennial event returns in December. That could provide another public setting for attention around the aircraft, although the source does not give details of any planned display or announcement.

In June last year, a Pakistani government social media post listed a Chinese offer involving 40 J-35s, KJ-500 early-warning planes and HQ-19 air defences. The post was taken down soon after.

The air force’s statement this May is the clearest development cited in the source, but it gave no numbers, delivery schedule or further terms for the proposed J-35 purchase.

Source: South China Morning Post