How does China’s new J-35A stealth fighter compare with US F-35A and Russia’s SU-57?

China has a new stealth fighter jet – and it looks exactly like the US’ F-35A.

The development of the J-35A, which debuted at the Zhuhai air show in China, has been years in the making.

The debut came a day after the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The J-35 also has a variant, known as the J-35A, which is designed for use with China’s aircraft carriers.

The six-day China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition is taking place at the country’s biggest civil and military air show in the southern Greater Bay city of Zhuhai from November 12 to 17.

Developing domestic aerospace design and manufacturing capabilities is a major strategic priority for Beijing as it vies for regional military dominance with the US amid escalating tensions around Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China also seeks to reduce its reliance on foreign imports, a concern borne out after the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, who has been vocal about increasing trade tariffs and decoupling supply chains from the world’s second-largest economy.

But how does the J-35A compare with the US’ F-35A and Russia’s SU-57?

Let’s take a closer look:

What do we know about J-35A?

The PLAAF has described the J-35A as a “medium-sized stealth multi-purpose fighter.”

It uses airstrips to take off and land.

According to Eurasian Times, the J-35A is modelled after the F-35A when it comes to its cockpit layout and canopy – which gives its pilots improved visibility.

It also has reinforced landing gear and foldable outer-wing panels to enhance performance on carrier decks as well as an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for superior situational awareness.

The J-35 and J-35A are designed and built by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a unit of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

Both J-35 variants are considerably smaller than China’s other stealth aircraft, the land-based J-20 fighter. An estimated 200 J-20s are operational with the PLAAF.

The J-35 program is a follow-on from China’s J-31 fighter, which made its public debut at the Zhuhai show in 2014.

However, it was never used by the People’s Liberation Army or sold to foreign customers.

Even as it takes to the skies more than 10 years after its progenitor, the J-31, made its first flight, few details are public about the J-35’s performance or stealthiness, military analysts say.

“Because of the black box typically surrounding PLA miltech developments, we won’t be too certain of the J-35’s performance,” said Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, in Singapore.

“PRC scientists … have carried out over the years various STEM and advanced studies related to fighter jet tech, including stealth, so I’ll suggest not joining sceptics to dismiss the aircraft outright,” Koh said.

The state-controlled People’s Daily news outlet said ahead of the air show the J-35A “mainly carries out the task of seizing and maintaining air supremacy”.

China has struggled with high-performance turbofan jet engine design, relying on Russian technology for early versions of its domestic fighters.

But the J-31 used Chinese-designed WS-13 engines and the J-35A could be fitted with the more advanced WS-19, analysts say, which is potentially up to 10 per cent more powerful.

Engine technology is critical for advanced fighters, as efficiency entails more range, the ability to carry more gear and weapons, and higher speeds.

“Never too sure about much except the shape of the airframe from these air shows,” said Peter Layton, a defence and aviation expert at the Griffith Asia Institute,

“The engines used are always a question.”

Wang Yongqing, a senior expert at the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, told Reuters that the J-35A plays a “point guard” role in China’s airpower, much like the “quarterback” function of the F-35A in US forces.

“It not only has strong point-scoring ability, but it also assesses the situation clearly,” Wang said.

The Pentagon too had described its F-35A as its ‘quarterback.’

“It’s the quarterback of the entire fight,” Maj. Gen. Gina Sabric, commander of the 10th Air Force, was quoted as saying by Business Insider in September.

Global Times in a report said, “The aircraft could enhance the country’s integrated combat capabilities.”

“J-35A functions within both stealth and counter-stealth combat frameworks. Its mission focuses on gaining and maintaining air superiority, eliminating hostile fourth/fifth generation fighter jets and ground/surface air defence forces, as well as intercepting aerial hostile targets including fighters, bombers and cruise missiles,” it said.

How does it measure up to the F-35A and Russia’s SU-57?

We don’t exactly know yet.

The J-35A appears superficially similar to the Lockheed Martin F-35A, whose shape, from fuselage to control surfaces, is designed to minimise how large it appears on radar.

It is not publicly known if the J-35 models have special radar-absorbent coatings, as the F-35A does, or communications and radar systems that are difficult to detect.

However, the F-35A, a fifth-generation fighter , is thought to be the world’s most advanced multirole fighter jet.

Nine countries – United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia – were involved in its development.

Lockheed Martin’s website states, “The F-35A brings a decisive advantage to the battlespace, providing an asymmetric advantage across the multi-domain spectrum. The F-35A’s transformational capabilities enable pilots to operate in any environment, against any threat.”

It is a single seater, single-engine fighter plane.

It is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 – the most powerful fighter engine in the world – it has a top speed of Mach 1.6.

It is a long range, supersonic fighter with a full complement of internal weapons and fuel.

The F-35A’s electronic sensors include the Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) – which gives pilots with situational awareness when it comes to missile warning, aircraft warning, and day/night pilot vision.

The F-35A also comes with an Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS).

This system, which is internally mounted, allows the fighter plane to increase its range detection and precision strike against ground targets as well as long range detection of air threats.

The F-35A’s helmet mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35A pilot needs to complete the mission is displayed on the helmet’s visor.

As per Eurasian Times, Russia’s SU-57, also known as the ‘Felon’, is its most advanced front-line aircraft.

Manufactured at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant in Russia’s Far East, the sophisticated fighter jet is the first one Russia has produced since the Cold War ended.

However, Russia has only managed to manufacture under 40 SU-57s since its first flight in 2010.

Just one SU-57 is currently operational with the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Felon is still using Russia’s Saturn AL-41F1 after-burning turbofan engine.

This is because Russia has not managed to put the new stealth-optimised Saturn AL-51 engine in the SU-57.

The SU-57 can hit air, ground, and naval targets and achieve supersonic cruising speed.

It is thought to come with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment including a powerful onboard computer known as the electronic second pilot.

Its radar system is spread across its body, while its arms are inside the fuselage.

Its AI system can also fly the plane and set up the use of weapons.

Foreign military attaches and security analysts are closely watching the evolution of J-35 variants, given their importance to Beijing’s aircraft carrier programme.

Although China’s three aircraft carriers remain in training and development mode and have yet to stage long-range operations beyond East Asia, a successful J-35 variant is expected to form a key part of the PLA Navy’s ability to project power beyond its home waters in coming years.

With inputs from agencies