PAF J-35AE - News, Updates and Discussions

[Michael]

"PL-17" has been seen so much that it should be in service by now. No point making a dummy missile for a munition still in testing phase. "PL-21" the one with RAM jet on the other hand have basically 0 indication that it even exists in real life. Likely cancelled when the more advanced PL-16 came.

We did see the PL-17 AAM mounted on the J-16, but we have not seen any official announcement of this missile. This suggests that it is currently in the military's trial testing phase.

By the end of 2026 you will feel embarrassed and you and deino are going to disappear from PDF.....we are going to miss you guys bigly

It doesn't matter to me whether you miss me or not.
I'm probably more informed and up to date on the J-35 situation than you are.

I will not make a definitive judgment on when the J-35 will arrive at PAF. In fact I have not made statements about it either. But I do know what time frame is impossible. I only make analysis and judgments based on what I know.

It simply doesn't make sense for it to be inducted this year, unless PAF wants a plane unable to carry weapons.

So far as the public is aware, it hasn't even gone through weapons testing yet.

At the VERY LEAST I don't expect it to be inducted any time before late 2026, and that's assuming China skips a bunch of formalities around testing, and speeds everything up, including weapons integration.

The final clear message is:
The two J-35s at last year's Zhuhai Airshow can only be called “airplanes”, not “fighters”. ------ At that time, the J-35 had all the elements of an airplane, but it was not equipped with a combat system, so it could not be called a “fighter”.

More than half a year has passed, and its current status is unknown.
During this six-month period, occasional photos of J-35 flights have surfaced on Chinese social media. However, the photos are all very blurry and it is impossible to make any analysis or judgment.

 

[Sparten]

Maybe I missed it, but when - at what minute in that video - did he mention any date or even more the date of 1st August 2025?

Again, no-one denies that the J-35A is coming, but based on all i know, it cannot come this year and even more so never ever on 1st August!

Honestly, I don't think even the chief of procurement of PAF could tell you when its coming. Except for the fatc, soon.
J31/35 and more SAM are probably item no 1 of emergency purchases.

 

[Deino]

Honestly, I don't think even the chief of procurement of PAF could tell you when its coming. Except for the fatc, soon.
J31/35 and more SAM are probably item no 1 of emergency purchases.

Yes, but instead of exactly quoting him without a given date or at best by adding "soon", some here and on social media make out this as "by late 2025" or now even "on 1st August!" and that's the point ...

Therefore instead of bashing me who points towards faked and over-hyped claims by fan-boys, just sticking to the facts and a realistic timeline?

 

[maxpane]

China Boosts Pakistan's Arsenal: Beijing Fast-Tracks J-35A Fighter Jet Delivery, Signals Deepening Defence Ties​

Top diplomatic sources confirm that China has offered Pakistan a 50 per cent discount on these fighter jets, along with easy payment options.​

China Boosts Pakistan's Arsenal: Beijing Fast-Tracks J-35A Fighter Jet Delivery, Signals Deepening Defence Ties

Top diplomatic sources confirm that China has offered Pakistan a 50 per cent discount on these fighter jets, along with easy payment options.

www.news18.com

i think its indian source . if it is then we should not take it seriously

 

[r3alist]

i think its indian source . if it is then we should not take it seriously

Also, what's the major major rush.

if the comparison has to be against the Indian air force, then there seems to be a buffer of a good few years before India gets anywhere near a 5th gen platform

Also, this sort of news coming from India will in fact just encourage it to buy a fifth gen fighter sooner. So, be careful what you wish for

 

[MH.Yang]

By the end of 2026 you will feel embarrassed and you and deino are going to disappear from PDF.....we are going to miss you guys bigly

2026? You're too optimistic. My prediction is 2028 to 2030.

To be honest, it is not in Pakistan's interest to get 5G fighters before India.

 

[ety]

2026? You're too optimistic. My prediction is 2028 to 2030.

To be honest, it is not in Pakistan's interest to get 5G fighters before India.

Has China opened a production line for mass production yet or has PLAAF inducted any J 35A into its fleet ? Probably takes at least couple of years to be ready to export to PAF.

 

[MH.Yang]

Has China opened a production line for mass production yet or has PLAAF inducted any J 35A into its fleet ? Probably takes at least couple of years to be ready to export to PAF.

If that's in the strategic interest, having the J35 prioritized for PAF equipment or even emergency entry is possible. But it is not in Pakistan's interest to get 5G fighters before India. The weaker party should not take the initiative to provoke an arms race.

India is still likely to go for AMCA or Su57. if Pakistan gets J35 earlier, then India is bound to go for F35.

let Pakistani pilots familiarize themselves with J35 in China earlier, and then let J35 arrive in Pakistan after India gets 5G fighters, or even after we make targeted modifications. This is the more appropriate way.

 

[mythbuster]

2026? You're too optimistic. My prediction is 2028 to 2030.

To be honest, it is not in Pakistan's interest to get 5G fighters before India.

It's not that Pakistan needs J 35 immediately ( India is stymied for the next few years ) ......in a decade or so china will be the predominant power in the world ( both , economically and military ) ..... whether china likes it or not , wants it or not , she can't shrug of her responsibility to keep the balance in world order.... America may huff and puff but it has lost the escalation ladder in east Asian theater..... America can't run away from middle Eastern theatre and it's this theater where china will need Pakistan to keep some semblance of sanity.

 

[Michael]

Has China opened a production line for mass production yet or has PLAAF inducted any J 35A into its fleet ? Probably takes at least couple of years to be ready to export to PAF.

The first phase of SAC's new plant was completed and delivered in 2025. The second phase is still under construction.

Total area: 4.2 square kilometers
Includes: production and flight area plants, test flight airport, etc.
A separate 3.3-square-kilometer aviation industrial park is being built next to the new plant.

My personal speculation:
They should currently be in the production equipment installation and commissioning phase. It is expected that some small-scale trial production may start later this year.

As for the engine factory:
The production line(conventional production line) for the WS-21 has been in production for a long time.
The production line(pulsation production line) for the WS-19 is still under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The production line is designed for a maximum capacity of 60 WS-19s/month to supply 20 J-35A fighters (each fighter requires 2+1 engines). Its actual capacity is not known at this time.

 

[wanglaokan]

I won't be surprised if J35A comes in color of PAF tomorrow morning. when push comes to shove, China speed will do its magic.

 

[ARMalik]

I don't believe the J-35A's internal bays can fit the PL-17 missile, it's noticeably longer than the PL-15, at 6 meters. I think it's primary launch platform is the J-16, and the J-10C can probably be configured to carry it but China doesn't see the need.

@Michael Can confirm if this is true or not...

I disagree. Time will tell that PL-17 will fit with J-35 since that is one of the reasons China has given these to Pakistan. But at this stage I don't have any concrete proof - just someone telling me this.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

J-35 had first flight in 2012 (Based on public news )

We are in 2025 , so that is a solid 13 year Maturation of Project, work out the issues
and solve the many challenges

It has finally reached a level where PAF felt it was time to get people trained on the platform, basically means a Generation of Pilots is already being trained how to use the system

During that time China also matured many radars , Missiles and Avionics packages which of course will find way into the J-35. I think the Engine tech in China has expanded quite a bit now

The resemblance is quite remarkable




Looks like Big Bird as well, much bigger then our JF17-BlockI ,Block ii, Block iii ?
Feels as big as F-15

 

[Michael]

But at this stage I don't have any concrete proof - just someone telling me this.

I'll whisper it to you, don't tell anyone: “The J-35's internal bomb bay can mount a DF-41 ICBM.”

J-35 had first flight in 2012 (Based on public news )

This statement is not rigorous enough.
To be precise, the FC-31 (predecessor of the J-35) first flew in 2012.
The J-35(WS-21)'s first flight is in 2021.
The J-35A(WS-21)'s first flight was in September 2023.
The J-35A(WS-19)'s first flight was in January 2024.

There are many differences between FC-31 and J-35.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Openly available public stuff the physical aspect of J-35
Really look a bit like F-15 (Stealth++) with the whole Double Engine at back
(Top View) the length and proportions of wings

But does look more like F-35 in ground camera angles

Hard to imagine such a fine bird is not China's main Jet but J-20 IS

But still quite a lovely Machine this J-35 , certainly has it's own characteristics