PAF J-35AE - News, Updates and Discussions

[maverick]

At this amount, the number of J35 should be much higher. Why just 40? Or does this deal include additional J10P? If only J35, then I would say the numbers acquired will be between 80 and 100 in 12 billion, including 6 KJ500A AEWCS and up to 5 batteries of HQ19E. otherwise we are mission something.

Ready to get them by Dec 2026 … Remember what i told you all in Jan 2024…
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[Dalit]

At this amount, the number of J35 should be much higher. Why just 40? Or does this deal include additional J10P? If only J35, then I would say the numbers acquired will be between 80 and 100 in 12 billion, including 6 KJ500A AEWCS and up to 5 batteries of HQ19E. otherwise we are mission something.

It is actually a good move. Limit the initial numbers. Acquire a reasonable amount and get more as the newer Block appears. I wouldn't be surprised if PAF receives more after the J-35B makes an introduction. 40 is a very good number initially.

 

[fameen]

lol do you know what are you talking about? J-35AE would be tip of the spear for PAF and Tip of the Spear is always in lesser numbers than workhorse like JF-17/F-16/J-10C and also 5th gen operating/maintenance and logistic cost is 3 to 4 times of conventional 4.5th gen jets, So its more likely that we will get 36-72 J-35AE and 80 to 100 J-10C with KJ-500 rather buy 100 J-35AE which put huge strain and burden on PAF to its operational capability

#NGAD, whereas you may well be the best, I was wondering as to when you plan to become a prototype?

 

[Aziqbal]

I would say expand the J10CP fleet its battle proven

add 36 x J35AE

expand the fleet of J10CP to 76 units

continue to upgrade the JF17 I and II to the III standard to over 250+ units

J35AE is also only as good as the AWACS cover it comes with , so either we get KJ-500 or even better if China allows KJ-600 or KJ-700 AWACS we get 6 units

 

[royalharris]

At this amount, the number of J35 should be much higher. Why just 40? Or does this deal include additional J10P? If only J35, then I would say the numbers acquired will be between 80 and 100 in 12 billion, including 6 KJ500A AEWCS and up to 5 batteries of HQ19E. otherwise we are mission something.

Based on this price range, what do you think how many j35 should be?

 

[studsmart]

Based on this price range, what do you think how many j35 should be?

If all 12 billion is earmarked for this, I would say 5 HQ19E batteries, 6 KJ500A, and 100 j35AE/P for PAF will cover the cost of materials, training, hosting, and integration. This assumption is based on that no other goodies are attached to 12 billion USD. At 70-80 million USD [J35AE/P estimate] cost, it is all doable.

 

[NGAD IS THE BEST]

If all 12 billion is earmarked for this, I would say 5 HQ19E batteries, 6 KJ500A, and 100 j35AE/P for PAF will cover the cost of materials, training, hosting, and integration. This assumption is based on that no other goodies are attached to 12 billion USD. At 70-80 million USD [J35AE/P estimate] cost, it is all doable.

LOL, get out of your Utopia and fairytales

 

[royalharris]

If all 12 billion is earmarked for this, I would say 5 HQ19E batteries, 6 KJ500A, and 100 j35AE/P for PAF will cover the cost of materials, training, hosting, and integration. This assumption is based on that no other goodies are attached to 12 billion USD. At 70-80 million USD [J35AE/P estimate] cost, it is all doable.

Do you know how much it cost for india to purchase Rafael or turkey to purchase typhoon?
Although both the Rafale and the Typhoon are utterly inferior to the J-35 and are completely outmatched.

The issue with the J-20 and J-35 has never been about customers, but about whether China is willing to sell them.

 

[studsmart]

Do you know how much it cost for india to purchase Rafael or turkey to purchase typhoon?
Although both the Rafale and the Typhoon are utterly inferior to the J-35 and are completely outmatched.

The issue with the J-20 and J-35 has never been about customers, but about whether China is willing to sell them.

it will be interesting to know the lifecycle cost of J35AE/P. I am taking per unit cost. does this 12 billion USD includes lifecycle cost?

 

[royalharris]

it will be interesting to know the lifecycle cost of J35AE/P. I am taking per unit cost. does this 12 billion USD includes lifecycle cost?

I don’t know. Probably no one has the answer, because this marks the first time China’s fifth-generation fighter jets have been offered for export.

But I believe most people agree that its price will be no lower than the rubbish of Europe's Rafale and Typhoon.

 

[Michael]

If all 12 billion is earmarked for this, I would say 5 HQ19E batteries, 6 KJ500A, and 100 j35AE/P for PAF will cover the cost of materials, training, hosting, and integration. This assumption is based on that no other goodies are attached to 12 billion USD. At 70-80 million USD [J35AE/P estimate] cost, it is all doable.

It is generally estimated that the unit price of the FC-31/J-35 fighter jet (excluding support packages) falls between $80 million and $150 million, with the specific cost depending on the degree of customization requested by the client.
However, in actual fighter jet procurement scenarios, no one chooses to purchase the aircraft alone. Such acquisitions typically include a comprehensive service package as well. The cost of this integrated package usually ranges from 50% to 100% of the aircraft's base price.

If you wish to make a rough estimate of the total unit cost for the FC-31/J-35 fighter jet—inclusive of all services—you can generally set the figure at approximately $200 million (though the actual price may range from $180 million to $220 million).

 

[东风夜放花千树]

At this amount, the number of J35 should be much higher. Why just 40? Or does this deal include additional J10P? If only J35, then I would say the numbers acquired will be between 80 and 100 in 12 billion, including 6 KJ500A AEWCS and up to 5 batteries of HQ19E. otherwise we are mission something.

First of all, we need to understand some knowledge about military procurement: prices are divided into two types. Take fighter jets as an example. A fighter jet is priced at $50 million, but if it includes the cost of building a maintenance base, spare engines, parts, and upgrade services, the price may exceed $100 million. Here are two orders to help you understand the price of weapons.

In 2016, India purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets, with an order price of €7.6 billion (€7.6 billion equals $8.954 billion), making each Rafale fighter jet $244 million. This price only includes part of the supporting equipment; France did not provide Meteor missiles to India.

On December 11, 2025, the United States approved an upgrade package for the Pakistan Air Force's F-16s, priced at $686 million.

Based on previous China-Pakistan military cooperation, this order should include 40 J-35A jets, spare J-35A engines, J-35A maintenance bases, J-35A hangars, supporting weapons for J-35A, electronic pods, 4-6 early warning aircraft and upgrade services, an encrypted data link system including satellites, a dedicated frequency band for the BeiDou satellite system, an unspecified number of HQ-19 systems, HQ-19 interceptors, and personnel training for these advanced weapons.

At the same time, a complete systematic combat unit also includes ground long-range early warning radars, fixed radar stations, mobile radar stations (with stealth detection capability, which HQ-19 radar vehicles can satisfy), and a command center (if using an existing command center, the equipment needs to be updated).

These are just my speculations; the specific quantity and details need to wait for official confirmation.

If Pakistan's procurement of advanced weapons is true, then the opponent of this force would be Israel, which indicates that Pakistan needs to maintain peace in the Middle East. Using these weapons to counter India would be somewhat wasteful. Look at this weapon: hypersonic missiles with a range of 500-1300 km, a speed of Mach 5-7, and a unit price of only $100,000. This is the most suitable weapon for striking India.

 

[东风夜放花千树]

Do you know how much it cost for india to purchase Rafael or turkey to purchase typhoon?
Although both the Rafale and the Typhoon are utterly inferior to the J-35 and are completely outmatched.

The issue with the J-20 and J-35 has never been about customers, but about whether China is willing to sell them.

You are a rational thinker.

We don’t need to make huge profits by selling weapons; the amount of profit is not an upgrade indicator for Chinese officials. Weapons exports need approval, and air defense systems, anti-drone systems, and self-defense systems are the easiest weapons to get approved. This is because these align with our stance of 'supporting the defense of sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and supporting the protection of legitimate and lawful rights and interests.'

When India acquired Rafale fighter jets, Pakistan needed weapons to defend its legitimate rights, so Pakistan received the J-10CE and PL-15.

When NATO countries threatened Belarus at its border, the Chinese military went to Belarus for joint exercises to deter NATO.

When NATO fighter jets threatened Serbia, Serbia needed weapons to defend its legitimate rights, so Serbia received the FK-3 air defense system. When NATO countries threatened Serbia again, Serbia gained the capability to mount CM-400AKG supersonic air-to-ground missiles on MiG-29s. This is a warning: if NATO tries to threaten Serbia again, more advanced weapons will enter Serbia.

So we can conclude that if your main goal is to protect your country's legitimate interests rather than start a war, you will receive weapons and support.

 

[RealNapster]

if this 12 billion is correct then PAF is going for 100 J35A, 6 KJ500A and 5 HQ19, 36 more j10C

The expected price for J-35 is going to be around 100-120 million. So yes, with 100 J-35 you will have enough money left to to buy a single 4 bedroom house in Islamabad. forget about HQ19, KJ500 and J10C.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

The expected price for J-35 is going to be around 100-120 million. So yes, with 100 J-35 you will have enough money left to to buy a single 4 bedroom house in Islamabad. forget about HQ19, KJ500 and J10C.

According to some Chinese media, it is 80 million per unit for Pakistan.