PAF J-35AE - News, Updates and Discussions

[corven]

No one has the capacity to use ETIM against China or any ethnic group they've got everyone under extremely strict surveillance and they don't care about going to even more extreme lengths. The idea that Turkey can do anything meaningful to China is a joke. I'm not anti-Turkish but from a strictly non-biased perspective.

The Chinese are ruthless for their interests

You are talking nonsense, just to cover up your hostility towards China. You are stirring up trouble here just to stir up hostility towards China among Pakistani friends who are friendly to China in the forum. For people like you, China has a special term called "shit stirrer".
How could you be against Türkiye? I even suspect that you are an East Turkestan activist and you came here to stir up conflict.

 

[Yasser76]

gone so off topic

 

[Rational Philosopher]

You are talking nonsense, just to cover up your hostility towards China. You are stirring up trouble here just to stir up hostility towards China among Pakistani friends who are friendly to China in the forum. For people like you, China has a special term called "shit stirrer".
How could you be against Türkiye? I even suspect that you are an East Turkestan activist and you came here to stir up conflict.

Where did I say anything against China?

 

[corven]

Where did I say anything against China?

Let's end this topic. I didn't want to talk about these unpleasant things at the beginning. I think we should still pay more attention to J35.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

Following the recent meeting between Pakistan’s field marshal and President Trump, several developments have come into focus. Pakistan has expressed clear interest in acquiring the Vkit upgrade package for 18 of its existing F-16s, aimed at enhancing avionics, radar, and combat capabilities. Additionally, Islamabad is exploring the procurement of 18 to 36 new F-16s from the latest production block, contingent on U.S. Congressional approval. If approved, deliveries are expected in batches of six aircraft.

Pakistan may also seek surplus F-16s from U.S. inventories, provided the airframes retain sufficient operational life. This approach could offer a cost effective boost to fleet readiness while awaiting newer platforms.

According to defense analysts, Pakistan appears to be strategically pacing its fifth generation fighter acquisition, particularly the Chinese J-35 platform. While initial pilot training and procurement discussions are underway, full scale induction may be deferred until 2028–2029, allowing time for the platform to mature and integrate with Pakistan’s broader airpower doctrine.

Interestingly, the timing of J-35 deliveries may hinge on India’s decision regarding its own fifth-generation fighter. If New Delhi opts for the Russian Su-57 and Moscow agrees to release units from its active inventory, Pakistan could accelerate its J-35 induction to maintain regional parity. However, current indicators suggest India may adopt a wait and watch approach, evaluating both the Su-57 and its indigenous AMCA program before committing to a fifth-gen platform.

In parallel, Pakistan is also shifting focus toward mass-producing indigenous UCAVs, with NESCOM (National Engineering and Scientific Commission) expected to lead this effort. Building on the operational success of the Burraq and Shahpar platforms, the country aims to expand its drone capabilities for both ISR and strike missions. This move reflects a broader push for self-reliance in unmanned systems.

Moreover, Pakistan is reportedly collaborating with Turkey to jointly produce advanced UCAVs, including potential co-development and assembly of platforms. This partnership could enhance Pakistan’s access to high altitude, long-endurance drones and advanced payloads, while also deepening defense ties with Ankara.

These developments signal a multi-pronged modernization strategy, balancing conventional fighter acquisitions with next-gen unmanned systems positioning Pakistan to adapt to evolving regional threats and technological shifts.

[This analysis is based on the current situation, things may change tomorrow or next week. But as of now, PAF is moving in this direction. A detailed write up will follow on Trump’s conditions for accepting the Abraham Accord, for which the field marshal has already given the green signal.]

 

[mythbuster]

Following the recent meeting between Pakistan’s field marshal and President Trump, several developments have come into focus. Pakistan has expressed clear interest in acquiring the Vkit upgrade package for 18 of its existing F-16s, aimed at enhancing avionics, radar, and combat capabilities. Additionally, Islamabad is exploring the procurement of 18 to 36 new F-16s from the latest production block, contingent on U.S. Congressional approval. If approved, deliveries are expected in batches of six aircraft.

Pakistan may also seek surplus F-16s from U.S. inventories, provided the airframes retain sufficient operational life. This approach could offer a cost effective boost to fleet readiness while awaiting newer platforms.

According to defense analysts, Pakistan appears to be strategically pacing its fifth generation fighter acquisition, particularly the Chinese J-35 platform. While initial pilot training and procurement discussions are underway, full scale induction may be deferred until 2028–2029, allowing time for the platform to mature and integrate with Pakistan’s broader airpower doctrine.

Interestingly, the timing of J-35 deliveries may hinge on India’s decision regarding its own fifth-generation fighter. If New Delhi opts for the Russian Su-57 and Moscow agrees to release units from its active inventory, Pakistan could accelerate its J-35 induction to maintain regional parity. However, current indicators suggest India may adopt a wait and watch approach, evaluating both the Su-57 and its indigenous AMCA program before committing to a fifth-gen platform.

In parallel, Pakistan is also shifting focus toward mass-producing indigenous UCAVs, with NESCOM (National Engineering and Scientific Commission) expected to lead this effort. Building on the operational success of the Burraq and Shahpar platforms, the country aims to expand its drone capabilities for both ISR and strike missions. This move reflects a broader push for self-reliance in unmanned systems.

Moreover, Pakistan is reportedly collaborating with Turkey to jointly produce advanced UCAVs, including potential co-development and assembly of platforms. This partnership could enhance Pakistan’s access to high altitude, long-endurance drones and advanced payloads, while also deepening defense ties with Ankara.

These developments signal a multi-pronged modernization strategy, balancing conventional fighter acquisitions with next-gen unmanned systems positioning Pakistan to adapt to evolving regional threats and technological shifts.

[This analysis is based on the current situation, things may change tomorrow or next week. But as of now, PAF is moving in this direction. A detailed write up will follow on Trump’s conditions for accepting the Abraham Accord, for which the field marshal has already given the green signal.]

Wth do you mean by trump's conditions for accepting the Abraham accord ? It shall be the other way around

 

[Trailer23]

I also support PAF choosing KAAN more.

Really...

This outta be good.

May I ask why you, personally would support Pakistan Air Force to choose KAAN (over the J-35A).

 

[Michael]

May I ask why you, personally would support Pakistan Air Force to choose KAAN (over the J-35A).

Thirty-Six Stratagems.
My English is not good, it is difficult to explain more to you. You can check the relevant instructions by yourself.

My real purpose is to hope that China-Pakistan relations will become more friendly. But before that, we need to let go of some obsessions.

 

[MH.Yang]

Really...

This outta be good.

May I ask why you, personally would support Pakistan Air Force to choose KAAN (over the J-35A).

Because we don't want the Pakistani people to feel that it was the Chinese government's pressure that forced Pakistan to choose the J-35. the choice has to be a two-way street, otherwise the losses outweigh the gains. It is more beneficial to the friendship of both sides for us to step back and leave the choice to PAF.

 

[RajaBaja]

Frankly, at what point Pakistan introduces the FC-31/J-35 is not particularly important to China. The first priority of all Chinese military industrial complexes is to serve the PLA. Foreign military trade is not their core mission.
If PAF takes the lead in buying FC-31/J-35, it will certainly help its foreign sales efforts, but that's about it.

I don't think this is accurate Michael. The Chinese military needs foreign revenue. That revenue gives it billions of dollars in profit and funding for the next big product like it is with Europe, America or Russia. China needs it even more. To get the same level of profit from other trade, you may be looking at many factories combined output for months vs. a few pieces of defense systems like the J-10C.

The crazy jump in Chinese defense stocks after Pakistan - India war recently, is a fact and proof of how much the Chinese weapons need foreign sales. To foreign clients, the Chinese weapons were considered poor, not on par with West and second graded. You could use those for training and simulation but not top tier defense products. Take an example: some countries have bought JL-10 trainers, but use the F-16's or F-18's or Rafale as tier I weapons. China couldn't break that mindset because it was built in over 30-40 years of research and testing.

Pakistan used the J-10C and other Chinese platforms as Tier I systems in a real battle, and that air battle also being the largest battle of similar advanced combat platforms (4 / 4.5 gen), where Chinese weapons established credibility and superiority.

Now you have a line of foreign customers. If the Chinese weapons manufacturers weren't worrying about foreign sales, they wouldn't be producing J-10C's in between PLA batches to ship overseas. This is trade, and more profitable than the rest of the trade China does. With each 1 piece of weapon like the J-10C, bringing in a lot more profit than many containers of smaller items.

 

[RajaBaja]

View attachment 133768

Sina Visitor System

I think J-35 production would follow J-20 pattern. First couple of years, around 50 units per year, then to 100 and more. By 2027-2028, we'd see 300 J-35's produced IMO and then jump to 100/+ per year. Even manufacturing lines require tweaking the process and upgrades just like we saw in J-20's production.

 

[Michael]

I don't think this is accurate Michael. The Chinese military needs foreign revenue. That revenue gives it billions of dollars in profit and funding for the next big product like it is with Europe, America or Russia. China needs it even more. To get the same level of profit from other trade, you may be looking at many factories combined output for months vs. a few pieces of defense systems like the J-10C.

The crazy jump in Chinese defense stocks after Pakistan - India war recently, is a fact and proof of how much the Chinese weapons need foreign sales. To foreign clients, the Chinese weapons were considered poor, not on par with West and second graded. You could use those for training and simulation but not top tier defense products. Take an example: some countries have bought JL-10 trainers, but use the F-16's or F-18's or Rafale as tier I weapons. China couldn't break that mindset because it was built in over 30-40 years of research and testing.

Pakistan used the J-10C and other Chinese platforms as Tier I systems in a real battle, and that air battle also being the largest battle of similar advanced combat platforms (4 / 4.5 gen), where Chinese weapons established credibility and superiority.

Now you have a line of foreign customers. If the Chinese weapons manufacturers weren't worrying about foreign sales, they wouldn't be producing J-10C's in between PLA batches to ship overseas. This is trade, and more profitable than the rest of the trade China does. With each 1 piece of weapon like the J-10C, bringing in a lot more profit than many containers of smaller items.

Based on Pakistan's logic, your point is correct. But there are some things you don't understand.

1. China's foreign arms trade, most of the time, has very low profits.
If you carefully calculate the PAF's order for 20 J-10CEs, you will find that the profit is very low. If you consider the monetary economy generated by the loan factor, it is actually a loss-making business (the value difference generated by the money invested in other civilian fields).

2. The executive team of China's military enterprises has no sales performance pressure. ------ No pressure, no motivation.

China's foreign arms trade is more out of strategic security considerations, not economic considerations. The civilian product field will allow China to earn more profits without any concerns.

This is our current situation. Will the Chinese government change its strategy in the future? I don't know.

I think J-35 production would follow J-20 pattern. First couple of years, around 50 units per year, then to 100 and more. By 2027-2028, we'd see 300 J-35's produced IMO and then jump to 100/+ per year. Even manufacturing lines require tweaking the process and upgrades just like we saw in J-20's production.

We have no idea about the J-35's foreign sales strategy. I can only provide my personal analysis and opinion.

It is likely to be a "test product" for China's foreign advanced weapons trade.

20 years ago, Rest of the World :
There were no Chinese-branded mobile phones.
There were no Chinese-branded cars.
There were no Chinese-branded ......
Now, the world is different.

Today, only a very small number of countries in the world use Chinese fighter jets.
What about the future?

 

[Trailer23]

But before that, we need to let go of some obsessions.

Not certain what "obsessions" you're referring to.

Because we don't want the Pakistani people to feel that it was the Chinese government's pressure that forced Pakistan to choose the J-35. the choice has to be a two-way street, otherwise the losses outweigh the gains. It is more beneficial to the friendship of both sides for us to step back and leave the choice to PAF.

Why would the Pakistani people or the Government feel pressured?

I don't think there was any pressure to get the J-10c's or the PL-15.

As for the 2-way street, I believe Pakistan-China Relations go further back than any active Member on [PDF].

Infact, I think if anything the respect has gone to another level after Pakistan/India conflict, because all of a sudden China's Military Equipment has officially been proven in an actual combat.

 

[ety]

The crazy jump in Chinese defense stocks after Pakistan - India war recently, is a fact and proof of how much the Chinese weapons need foreign sales. To foreign clients, the Chinese weapons were considered poor, not on par with West and second graded. You could use those for training and simulation but not top tier defense products. Take an example: some countries have bought JL-10 trainers, but use the F-16's or F-18's or Rafale as tier I weapons. China couldn't break that mindset because it was built in over 30-40 years of research and testing.

The world foreign weapons market esp of the sophisticated big item weapons such as advanced fighters is traditionally pretty much divided between US, Soviet Union/Russia and couple European countries for those that can afford to buy them, China is a latecomer and it's not easy for China to break in and establish itself. Now, Russian weapons have been proven not that effective in the Ukraine war and French most advanced Rafale fighters have failed miserably in recent Indo-Pak mini war. So, good chance for China, yes, but Chinese weapons main target is to equip and satisfy PLA.

 

[RajaBaja]

The world foreign weapons market esp of the sophisticated big item weapons such as advanced fighters is traditionally pretty much divided between US, Soviet Union/Russia and couple European countries for those that can afford to buy them, China is a latecomer and it's not easy for China to break in and establish itself. Now, Russian weapons have been proven not that effective in the Ukraine war and French most advanced Rafale fighters have failed miserably in recent Indo-Pak mini war. So, good chance for China, yes, but Chinese weapons main target is to equip and satisfy PLA.

I agree with everything but the part about "satisfy PLA". When you can earn billions of dollars in profit AND satisfy your own military better, because with more profits, you can put more $$ into R&D, no country will say no to that. It just doesn't happen. Doesn't matter if its China or anyone else.