PAF J-35AE - News, Updates and Discussions

[Michael]

sir i am thinking out loud so please bare with me

Sir, if you are to train new pilots in 5th Gen aircraft, you require first of 5th Gen aircraft to train upon, since there is no J-35/35A other then prototypes. then if PAF pilots are training then they must be training in ___________??? fill in the blank! which is readily available in service is it logical - since i heard the gap between 4 and 4.5 gen aircraft and 5th gen aircraft is so much that pilots need to unlearn old and relearn new way of flying and fighting 5th gen aircraft.

so we are down to single question! either PAF pilots are training or not training for 5th Gen aircraft in PRC.

if we get this - we understand what actually we are buying./which aircraft is bought.

Again! As of now, we have not seen any official reports of “PAF buying J-35” and “PAF pilots receiving relevant training in China”.

This is not a complete denial of the news. For reasons of confidentiality, China and Pakistan usually do something first. They wait until the time is right to make public announcements. For example, we have never heard of PAF pilots being trained to operate the J-10CE in China, but when the J-10CE arrived at PAF, it was immediately operational. Obviously, these pilots were trained in China early on, it's just that no one publicized the news.

As military fans, we can analyze these pilots in advance. However, these are just entertainment behaviors among military fans and cannot be considered as official news.

Selection of PAF personnel to be sent to China for training:

They should include: J-35 pilots, ground maintenance engineers, managers, air combat commanders, etc.
1. Language requirements.
Although Chinese fighter pilots are proficient in communicating in English, and the relevant systems for the foreign trade version of the J-35 will be labeled in English, all PAF personnel coming to China for training will be required to be proficient in Chinese.
2. Political and Background Vetting.
Political Vetting: Clearances from Pakistani military and Chinese security agencies, including no criminal history.
Confidentiality Agreements: Mandatory non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to protect sensitive technologies.
3. J-35 Pilot.
Combat Aircraft Proficiency: Prior experience on 4th-gen fighters (e.g., JF-17/F-16/J-10CE) to ease transition to advanced systems.
Chinese reports on J-20 pilots specifically mention that the pilot's body must be able to withstand 9G overloads. We do not yet know if the J-35 has similar requirements.

J-35 pilot training content and duration of training.

(From Deepseek)​

Theoretical Training: Covers stealth technology, avionics, weapon systems, and fifth-gen fighter tactics. Estimated 3–6 months.​

Simulator Training: Familiarization with cockpit interfaces, emergency procedures, and basic flight dynamics. Requires 2–3 months.​

Live Flight Training: Includes supervised flights, solo sorties, and tactical drills. Due to the complexity of fifth-gen fighters, this phase may take 6–12 months.​

Evaluation & Adaptation: Joint exercises with maintenance teams and mission-specific drills. Requires 1–2 months.​

Total Duration: Approximately 1.5–2 years, depending on prior experience and individual aptitude.​

Special Note: PLAAF has a large number of 3rd-Gen fighter pilots who have converted directly to flying 5th-Gen fighters. They did not go through 4th-Gen/4.5th-Gen fighters.

There is also a technical detail involved here.
Since China's foreign trade versions of the fighters are customized versions, there are configuration differences between them and the PLAAF's own versions.The PAF needs to first specify the configuration of the actual procurement so that China can develop a corresponding training program based on that configuration. Otherwise, it will affect the progress of training.

 

[SiliconBit (silicon0000)]

Just one more point to add. Look for changes required for J35 in PAF air bases.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

J-35 would certainly we welcomed addition to Pakistan Airforce.

However steady increase of J10 would also be sufficient for immediate needs for decade

• The existing fleet and Missile & Nuke deterrent are more then enough already
• Having a Super Sonic Missile would be no doubt great addition now knowing the potential it has

 

[studsmart]

this is what i think pakistan is going for in next 5 years
1 - J30A - between 40 and 54
2 - J10C - betweek 54 and 72
3 - L15P - appx 60

 

[NGAD IS THE BEST]

this is what i think pakistan is going for in next 5 years
1 - J30A - between 40 and 54
2 - J10C - betweek 54 and 72
3 - L15P - appx 60

What is J-30A?

 

[FarhanSiddiqui]

We have to until China itself has inducted over hundred J-35s with iterations. That would happen in early 2030s.This infantile obsession is annoying.

 

[studsmart]

What is J-30A?

I mean j35a

 

[Tank131]

There is an issue also before PAF inducts any FGFA that they need to develop doctrines for the use of saod fighters. There is a lot of educational ground work that needs to be done before induction and integration of a paradigm shifting piece of tech/system.

My guess is that, given no production model is available and the design isn't even fully locked, of there are any PAF personnel in China "training on J-35" it is for this purpose. Development of technology know how and expertise learning about maintaining the aircraft, technical aspects of flying a FGFA, use of systems and subsystems and developing protocols for PAF to implement, so that whenit finally does come, PAF as an entire service is ready and capable of absorbing to tech effectively.

 

[Yasser76]

There is an issue also before PAF inducts any FGFA that they need to develop doctrines for the use of saod fighters. There is a lot of educational ground work that needs to be done before induction and integration of a paradigm shifting piece of tech/system.

My guess is that, given no production model is available and the design isn't even fully locked, of there are any PAF personnel in China "training on J-35" it is for this purpose. Development of technology know how and expertise learning about maintaining the aircraft, technical aspects of flying a FGFA, use of systems and subsystems and developing protocols for PAF to implement, so that whenit finally does come, PAF as an entire service is ready and capable of absorbing to tech effectively.

Spot on.

I do suspect that with a lot of Chinese radars, C4I and SAMS being inducted over the last 5 years odd, that PAF is indeed laying the ground work for an envoirnment where the J-35 can operate efficiently and make the most of not only it's stealth but ability to distribute and absorb information to and from seperate nodes/platforms.

In this sense we are very lucky in that fact that we can simply study how China has done this with the J-20 and the integrated network around that.

 

[Hussain]

Just a nice pic - most probably cgi

 

[Deino]

View attachment 109662
Just a nice pic - most probably cgi

Not MOST PROBABLY ... clearly!

 

[Hussain]

Not MOST PROBABLY ... clearly!

I was being polite, but I guess you don't like that.
Next time I address you, will keep that in mind. Thanks

 

[Deino]

I was being polite, but I guess you don't like that.
Next time I address you, will keep that in mind. Thanks

Pardon, and I did not want to be un-polite, but it is obviously a CG!

 

[Scorpio]

According to well respected Chinese member @Michael SAC is relocating its factory ( build to produce J35As) to the new place in China And also he said J35 production will begin in 2026 and first customer will be PLAAF/PLAN not PAFAke

Make sence, atleast Chinese navy will induct them first

 

[Scorpio]

The thread was quiet and then someone had to come in and post a question about timeline to stir up the hornet's nest.
All of the posters in last 2 pages have been repeating themselves for the umpteenth time, hoping against hope that they will convince the other side or just to refute the other side.
End result: "My source is bigger than your source"

Well said Brother,