PAF J-35AE - News, Updates and Discussions

[Yasser76]

Yes but who exactly have the Israelis fought aside bombing villages in Palestine and Lebanon?
Their air to air combat capability is questionable and I asked this from US combat airmen themselves at RIAT who said the same. They told me they're great in their own area against poor regional rivals, but against an established air arm that's another thing. Their last air engagement was in 1985 downing some Syrian Mig 23's......
That being said the two won't meet and they're not a threat as such.

Yeah, point is no use saying things like "But Israelis have a better ecosystem"

In effect that means little. Yes F-35 can plug and play into them but we can do that with our current set up and the J-35.

Who has better EW or AEW is such a value based judgement, who is to say the latest export EW gear is not as good as Israeli gear? The very nature of EW makes this hard to prove, but PAF has proven its EW/AEW/BVR capabilities against Rafales. This proven system has gone up against a much bigger enemy that itself is armed with Israel EW/AEW/BVR/Cyber and we beat them

Israel has done a good job in interlinking US and Israeli equipment into a unique set up for multi-domain ops, but then so has PAF with Pak, Swedish, Chinese systems, and we can be 100% sure much Chinese effort has gone into countering the F-35.

Remember J-35AEs are just rolling off the factory after F-35 has been in frontline service for over 10 years. There will be lessons incorporated into it...

 

[mythbuster]

Yeah, point is no use saying things like "But Israelis have a better ecosystem"

In effect that means little. Yes F-35 can plug and play into them but we can do that with our current set up and the J-35.

Who has better EW or AEW is such a value based judgement, who is to say the latest export EW gear is not as good as Israeli gear? The very nature of EW makes this hard to prove, but PAF has proven its EW/AEW/BVR capabilities against Rafales. This proven system has gone up against a much bigger enemy that itself is armed with Israel EW/AEW/BVR/Cyber and we beat them

Israel has done a good job in interlinking US and Israeli equipment into a unique set up for multi-domain ops, but then so has PAF with Pak, Swedish, Chinese systems, and we can be 100% sure much Chinese effort has gone into countering the F-35.

Remember J-35AEs are just rolling off the factory after F-35 has been in frontline service for over 10 years. There will be lessons incorporated into it...

One historical constant we conveniently ignore time and again ! Emerging power always come up with out of box solutions and technological novelties to subdue the established powers..... emerging powers are like hungry lions itching for a hunt and complacency is the hallmark of established powers...china and Pakistan are emerging powers , J 35 is minor manifestation of their goals and dreams.

 

[KingQamaR]

Yeah, point is no use saying things like "But Israelis have a better ecosystem"

In effect that means little. Yes F-35 can plug and play into them but we can do that with our current set up and the J-35.

Who has better EW or AEW is such a value based judgement, who is to say the latest export EW gear is not as good as Israeli gear? The very nature of EW makes this hard to prove, but PAF has proven its EW/AEW/BVR capabilities against Rafales. This proven system has gone up against a much bigger enemy that itself is armed with Israel EW/AEW/BVR/Cyber and we beat them

Israel has done a good job in interlinking US and Israeli equipment into a unique set up for multi-domain ops, but then so has PAF with Pak, Swedish, Chinese systems, and we can be 100% sure much Chinese effort has gone into countering the F-35.

Remember J-35AEs are just rolling off the factory after F-35 has been in frontline service for over 10 years. There will be lessons incorporated into it...

In the evolving technological advancements, platforms are important, but Pakistan/China showed that tactics, strategy, training , and real time intelligence are also critical for air superiority.

 

[MH.Yang]

Pardon, but that’s plain stupid and simply wrong! Even 40 J-35AE won’t be a „challenge Israel's air dominance in the middle East“ given that the IDF has an established & continously evolving eco System, whereas the PAF is at best just entering this playground.

If intercepting F35, the J-35A only needs to use its stealth advantage to conduct forward detection and distribute the coordinates of F35 to KJ-500, HQ-9BE, GJ-11, and J-10CE.

That is to say, PAF also needs to obtain complete ecology before going to Saudi Arabia.

I also don't think that PAF can defeat the Israeli Air Force with just two J-35A squadron. However, I believe that the quality of PAF pilots is on par with Israel's elite pilots. In contrast, pilots from many Middle Eastern countries would still lose even they were equipped with superior weapons.

Pilot quality determines that the PAF is the only answer. The difference lies only in time.

 

[mythbuster]

If intercepting F35, the J-35A only needs to use its stealth advantage to conduct forward detection and distribute the coordinates of F35 to KJ-500, HQ-9BE, GJ-11, and J-10CE.

That is to say, PAF also needs to obtain complete ecology before going to Saudi Arabia.

I also don't think that PAF can defeat the Israeli Air Force with just one J-35A squadron.

No one in his right mind will claim that a squadron of J 35 will defeat Israeli air force...J 35 is not a wonder weapon ... thanks for your input anyway.

 

[Yasser76]

If intercepting F35, the J-35A only needs to use its stealth advantage to conduct forward detection and distribute the coordinates of F35 to KJ-500, HQ-9BE, GJ-11, and J-10CE.

That is to say, PAF also needs to obtain complete ecology before going to Saudi Arabia.

I also don't think that PAF can defeat the Israeli Air Force with just one J-35A squadron.

For sure, 100% agree, improvements can be made to a multi-domain ecosystem, however with Erieye, J-10C, Falcon20, HQ-9, EW etc Pakistan has one in place, albeit a hodgepodge of different kit from different suppliers. No doubt elements of it will be upgraded with KJ-500 and HQ-9BE, but it does exist. Remember, only 2 odd weeks ago we were confident enough to send J-10Cs into Iran with AEW and EW supporting assets. That is a big achievment alone in my book.

 

[Waz]

However, I believe that the quality of PAF pilots is on par with Israel's elite pilots. In contrast, pilots from many Middle Eastern countries would still lose even they were equipped with superior weapons.

Pilot quality determines that the PAF is the only answer. The difference lies only in time.

The other essential difference is the PAF pilots are highly battle tested in real air battles with large numbers of aircraft, that to in the modern era. That sets them apart.

 

[Waz]

Chinese J-35 stealth jets set to give Pakistan​

edge over India in fifth-generation tech​

India has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters but is lagging behind Pakistan​

Published: 11:00am, 8 May 2026Updated: 5:26pm, 8 May 2026

A year after fending off a massive Indian air assault with the help of Chinese warplanes and missiles, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Thursday unveiled plans to upgrade its fleet through further acquisitions of Chengdu J-10C fighters and substantial upgrades to the JF-17s co-produced by the two allies.


The PAF further confirmed that it has signed an “initial collaborative agreement” for the acquisition of fifth-generation Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter, without disclosing any details about the scope of the deal.

Speculation is rife that Pakistan could take delivery of an initial batch of J-35s by the end of this year, following the airing of a video by CCTV last week showing the first fully operational export version of the warplane. As the only overseas customer to date, the PAF is the obvious destination.

According to analysts, the PAF’s induction of Chinese fifth-generation warplanes into service would alter the balance of air power with India, which has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters bought from France and Russia but is lagging behind Pakistan in the acquisition of stealth warplanes.
The J-35s would also boost the PAF’s ability to project military power into the Persian Gulf. Pakistan last month deployed a squadron of fighters – including JF-17s – to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact signed last September.

An export variant of the J-35A fighter jet appears on CCTV’s May 1 special programme. Photo: CCTV

At a press conference in Islamabad, PAF deputy chief of air staff Air Vice-Marshal Tariq Ghazi said “foundations have been laid for the acquisition of advanced capabilities” – including long-range precision weapons (LRPW), next-generation platforms, “additional” J-10C aircraft and “much upgraded” JF-17s.

Chinese J-35 stealth jets set to give Pakistan a strategic edge over India

India has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters but is lagging behind Pakistan in the acquisition of stealth warplanes.

www.scmp.com

 

[Yasser76]

Chinese J-35 stealth jets set to give Pakistan​

edge over India in fifth-generation tech​

India has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters but is lagging behind Pakistan​

Published: 11:00am, 8 May 2026Updated: 5:26pm, 8 May 2026

A year after fending off a massive Indian air assault with the help of Chinese warplanes and missiles, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Thursday unveiled plans to upgrade its fleet through further acquisitions of Chengdu J-10C fighters and substantial upgrades to the JF-17s co-produced by the two allies.


The PAF further confirmed that it has signed an “initial collaborative agreement” for the acquisition of fifth-generation Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter, without disclosing any details about the scope of the deal.

Speculation is rife that Pakistan could take delivery of an initial batch of J-35s by the end of this year, following the airing of a video by CCTV last week showing the first fully operational export version of the warplane. As the only overseas customer to date, the PAF is the obvious destination.

According to analysts, the PAF’s induction of Chinese fifth-generation warplanes into service would alter the balance of air power with India, which has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters bought from France and Russia but is lagging behind Pakistan in the acquisition of stealth warplanes.
The J-35s would also boost the PAF’s ability to project military power into the Persian Gulf. Pakistan last month deployed a squadron of fighters – including JF-17s – to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact signed last September.

An export variant of the J-35A fighter jet appears on CCTV’s May 1 special programme. Photo: CCTV

At a press conference in Islamabad, PAF deputy chief of air staff Air Vice-Marshal Tariq Ghazi said “foundations have been laid for the acquisition of advanced capabilities” – including long-range precision weapons (LRPW), next-generation platforms, “additional” J-10C aircraft and “much upgraded” JF-17s.

Chinese J-35 stealth jets set to give Pakistan a strategic edge over India

India has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters but is lagging behind Pakistan in the acquisition of stealth warplanes.

www.scmp.com

It is describing SU-30/MIG-29s as 4.5th gen?

 

[Yasser76]

The other essential difference is the PAF pilots are highly battles tested in real air battles with large numbers of aircraft, that to in the modern era. That sets them apart.

This is 100% it.

How many countries can boast of successive kills in air to air combat against a peer over last 30 years?

 

[Waz]

It is describing SU-30/MIG-29s as 4.5th gen?

SU-30 MKI and Rafale I believe.

 

[Yasser76]

SU-30 MKI and Rafale I believe.

Yeah, the SU-30MKI barely makes it to 4th gen, yet alone 4.5th gen.

35 year old plane, no AESA, relatively low ranged BVR, no sensor fusion,

 

[Waz]

This is 100% it.

How many countries can boast of successive kills in air to air combat against a peer over last 30 years?

I remember well at RIAT US airmen/women visiting the Pakistani section and laughing and smiling and talking to them for ages. I enquired about it and the PAF told me it was about the recent air battle and how impressed they were.
Went to the US section, like I always do and asked them the same and got told "those guys are great".

 

[Yasser76]

I remember well at RIAT US airmen/women visiting the Pakistani section and laughing and smiling and talking to them for ages. I enquired about it and the PAF told me it was about the recent air battle and how impressed they were.
Went to the US section, like I always do and asked them the same and got told "those guys are great".

For sure, PAF as rated highly before the Op, the op put our pilots in tier 1. Now we just need to provide them tier 1 aircraft.

 

[Waz]

Yeah, the SU-30MKI barely makes it to 4th gen, yet alone 4.5th gen.

35 year old plane, no AESA, relatively low ranged BVR, no sensor fusion,

I'm not sure they thought over it very well. It's Rafale, Typhoon, Super Hornet block 3 etc.