China may develop the fifth-generation J-35 fighter for the air force and foreign customers as an analogue to the US F-35A Lightning II
China appears to be working on a new version of the fifth-generation J-35 fighter jet. It will be intended for export and the People's Liberation Army Air Force.
Here's What We Know
China is already working on the J-35 for the navy. The aircraft will be an analogue of the US F-35C fighter. It will be deployed aboard future Chinese aircraft carriers, which will receive an electromagnetic catapult.
Via "ACuriousPLAFan"/SDF another image taken by someone else, which is less blurry.
- @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) September 26, 2023
As it seems, it was posted by @立马投投花 as a comment on Weibo. pic.twitter.com/wXdc1QwGDE
- nmhcvff (@nmhcvff) September 28, 2023
Talk of an air force version emerged after a series of photos allegedly showing a new variant of the J-35 were published on Chinese social media. Judging by the photos, the aircraft has a smaller wing than the carrier version.
And again new images have been leaked showing the alleged new J-35 prototype together with the J-16.
- @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) September 28, 2023
(Images via @伏尔戈星图 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/kFzIv6A5g6
Similarly, the wing of the F-35C for the US Navy is much smaller than the F-35A for the US Air Force. This is to improve the fighter's handling at low speeds when attempting to land on an aircraft carrier deck.
It is unclear whether China is actually working on a new version of the fifth-generation fighter, but it must be recognised that China's aircraft industry is booming. The military is now trying to ramp up production of the J-20, which is almost an exact replica of the F-22 Raptor. In addition, China is developing a sixth-generation fighter jet. It will appear in the middle of the next decade.
