In a game-changing proposal, China is reportedly in talks with Pakistan for Islamabad to buy 40 advanced stealth fighter jets from Beijing, which are China’s most advanced military aircraft.
If the deal is finalized, Pakistan will be the first and only country globally to have a squadron of stealth J-35A multi-role fighter jets outside China. It will also mark the first export of China’s most advanced military aircraft by Beijing.
The J-35A is China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. After the United States, China is the only other country in the world to have two 5th generation military aircraft. It now plans to export a large number of aircraft to its all-weather ally Pakistan, which is trying to replace its aging fleet of US-made F-16 and French Mirage fighter planes.
According to a report by Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, which cited Pakistani media, China will deliver all 40 stealth fighter Zest in less than two years. China’s entire defense industry is already ready for mass production as it is not dependent on any other country for any aircraft parts.
The report also says that Pakistan Air Force has already approved the purchase of these jets. Although there has been no confirmation from Beijing, if such an agreement happens, it would give Pakistan a huge boost to its air defense and the ability to tilt regional dynamics as Islamabad would acquire stealth technology.
What is known about the Chinese J-35A stealth aircraft?
The Shenyang J-35A stealth fighter is a twin-engine, single-seater, supersonic, air-superiority, multi-role fighter jet that can carry out missions on land and sea. The J-35A is the second fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by China after the J-20.
The design of the J-35A is similar to the US Lockheed Martin F-35, the only difference being that the first is twin-engine and the second has a single engine. China is known to copy the design of several US aircraft – the J-20 and the US F-22 Raptor are very similar in design, except for rumors that the J-20 exists. The Chengdu J-10, also known as the “Vigorous Dragon”, is another Chinese aircraft that appears to be a copy of the US F-16 fighter jet.
US F-22 Raptor (left), China J-20 (right)
According to a report by the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece Global Times, “The J-35A operates within both stealth and counter-stealth warfare frameworks. Its mission is to eliminate hostile fourth/fifth generation fighters, achieve air superiority and Focused on maintaining.” and ground/surface air defense forces, as well as intercepting aerial hostile targets, including fighters, bombers and cruise missiles.” This article was published the day China first unveiled the jet last month.
China plans to induct this aircraft into the Air Force and Navy, just like the F-35 is used by the United States, of which there are three variants – F-35A for the Air Force, F-35A for the Marine Corps F-35B for the US Navy and F-35C for the US Navy.
US F-35 Lightning formation flying
Pakistan’s economic crisis
Despite the severe economic crisis in the country, Pakistan, which is surviving on the IMF and World Bank bailout package, is reportedly going ahead with the deal. However it is unclear how such a large deal will be financed. It would not be a surprise if China decides to extend another loan which Pakistan will not be able to repay. Pakistan already has so much debt with Beijing that it is not economically possible for Islamabad to repay it. Many experts believe that at some point Pakistan will have to sell national assets and perhaps even parts of the country to repay its debts.
Although the buzz is intense in Islamabad, Beijing has not confirmed the sale of its stealth fighter jets in any official communication. Nor does he mention it in passing.
When the J-35A stealth fighter was first publicly displayed by China at the annual air show in Zhuhai city in November, top Pakistan Air Force officials visited the exhibit and were seen interacting with senior Chinese officials .
Pakistan Air Force chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu said in January that “the foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid,” the South China Morning Post reported. The J-31 is considered a land version of the J-35A, which was originally intended to be a naval aircraft but was later launched as a multi-role fighter jet.
Despite Pakistan’s inability to pay, China has steadily increased its military supplies to Islamabad by modernizing all three branches of the Pakistani military over time, spending several billion dollars in the country’s defense expenditure.
China has also jointly developed and operates the J-17 Thunder fighter jet with Pakistan. China has already handed over four advanced naval warships to Pakistan for its navy.
Meeting between China and Pakistan on alleged deal
Top Chinese military General Zhang Youxia visited Pakistan in November, soon after the unveiling of the J-35A stealth aircraft, during which he held closed-door talks with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir.
General Zhang is vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, or CMC, the overall command of the Chinese military. President Xi Jinping heads the commission and is directly briefed on such meetings.
After the meeting, the Inter-Services Public Relations or ISPR, the media arm of the Pakistani Armed Forces, released a statement, saying the meeting between the two “focused on matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, regional stability measures and enhancing Was.” Bilateral Defense Cooperation”.
Pakistan’s sovereignty in danger?
According to Pakistani media, during these recent meetings, China is increasing pressure on Islamabad to allow Beijing’s security firms and agencies to send boots on the ground in Pakistan.
China reportedly intends to send an initial contingent of over 20,000 troops and security personnel to deploy at various locations along the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC, which it is building in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and doing. Disturbed area of Balochistan.
According to Pakistani media reports, Islamabad says it has deployed more than 30,000 dedicated military and paramilitary personnel to protect Chinese workers working on the so-called CPEC-related project.
The report further said that till now, Pakistan has somehow resisted Beijing’s pressure to deploy Chinese troops across Pakistan over sovereignty concerns.
