Stealth War: China’s New J-35 vs US F-35

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

J-35 vs F-22 & F-35

The emerging J-35, which can be traced back to years of development of the PLA’s J-31 5th-gen stealthy carrier-launched stealth jet, is described as having unparalleled ability to “see” and “target” enemy fighters from stand-off ranges, much like the US F-35. Available specs of China’s several J-31 (FC-31) prototypes say the aircraft can hit speeds of Mach 1.8, meaning it is faster than an F-35 which flies at Mach 1.6 but not quite as fast as the Mach 2.2 speeds of the US F-22. The F-22 also has the most advanced thrust to weight ratio in the world, and is therefore able to maneuver, vector and out-run enemy air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles in ways that are likely to be unrivaled.

In discussing the arrival of its J-35, the Chinese Government backed Global Times says it is quite different from its preceding J-20. While able to carry large amounts of ordnance and operate at high altitudes up to 12 miles high, the J-20 is also listed at being capable of hitting speeds of Mach 2.0. At the same time, the J-20 is larger than the J-35, capable of flying at high altitudes and carrying a large amount of ordnance.  While the J-20s speed might suggest it has an ability to vector and maneuver in the air, it does not seem clear how agile the J-20 might be, given its size and weight. Sure enough, the Chinese paper compares the J-20 to its J-35 and says its newer J-35 stealth fighter is lighter, faster, similar to an F-35 and engineered for “strong surface attack capabilities.” 

“The J-35A has a different design than China’s first stealth fighter jet, the J-20. The J-20, with a canard wing configuration, is a heavy fighter jet with a focus on air superiority missions comparable with the US’ F-22, while the medium-sized J-35A uses a tailplane wing configuration similar with the US’ F-35 that also has strong surface attack capabilities,” The Global Times says.