The AVIC J-35 is a 5th-generation twin-engine stealth carrier-based fighter developed by China for PLAN operations from Fujian-class carriers.
The AVIC J-35 is a 5th-generation carrier-based stealth fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a division of AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China). It is an evolution of the earlier FC-31 (J-31) prototype, adapted for naval deployment. The J-35 features twin-engine propulsion, internal weapon bays, reduced radar cross-section, and carrier-compatible airframe reinforcement. It incorporates stealth characteristics such as planform alignment, sawtooth landing gear doors, and angled air intakes. Designed for carrier operations, it includes reinforced landing gear, arrestor hook, and foldable wings. The aircraft is developed for deployment on Type-003 (Fujian-class) aircraft carriers. Its primary roles include air superiority, strike missions, and maritime interdiction. The J-35 is China’s strategic response to the Lockheed Martin F-35C, intended to modernize the People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) with indigenous stealth capabilities.
History of the development of the AVIC J-35
The development of the AVIC J-35 is rooted in China’s effort to modernize its carrier-based aviation capabilities. This initiative gained traction during the early 2010s, as the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) sought alternatives to the J-15, which presented structural limitations and lacked stealth features. The operational landscape was shifting globally, with stealth becoming a baseline requirement for survivability in contested airspace. The success of the U.S. Navy’s F-35C accelerated Chinese interest in a parallel platform.
The initial airframe was the FC-31, first revealed in 2012 at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the FC-31 was proposed as an export fighter. Its configuration featured twin engines, stealth shaping, and a moderate weapons load, designed to appeal to foreign markets. However, limited interest abroad and increasing internal demand led to a shift in focus from export to domestic use.
By 2018, China repurposed the FC-31’s design for a carrier-based version, initiating the transformation into the J-35 program. The project was internally rebranded and received significant structural reinforcements, arrestor hook integration, folding wings, and compatibility enhancements for catapult-assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) operations. These modifications targeted integration with the emerging Type-003 Fujian-class carriers, which were under construction with electromagnetic catapult systems.
The J-35 project was quietly accelerated in parallel with China’s broader naval expansion. Ground-based prototype testing began by 2020, followed by high-speed taxi trials and low-altitude test flights. In October 2021, the aircraft conducted its first public flight, confirming the shift to a naval variant. The PLAN designation “J-35” remains unofficial; within Chinese sources, the aircraft is also referred to as J-XY, denoting its test status.
The development timeline aligns with China’s geopolitical objectives in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and beyond. The need for carrier air superiority became central to China’s doctrine of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD). With the U.S. Navy continuing to operate F-35Cs and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, the J-35 aims to deliver an indigenous platform capable of contesting maritime airspace.
By 2023, flight testing intensified, with reports indicating full-scale integration tests aboard land-based catapult facilities. Although serial production has not yet begun, multiple prototypes are flying, and avionics refinement continues. The aircraft is likely to enter initial operating capability (IOC) by 2028, aligning with the Fujian-class carrier deployment timeline.
The NATO reporting name for the J-35 has not been publicly assigned as of 2025. However, it is being tracked closely by Western intelligence due to its strategic significance.
Design of the AVIC J-35
The AVIC J-35 is configured as a twin-engine, single-seat, stealth multirole carrier-based fighter. Its design emphasizes radar signature reduction, maneuverability, and carrier compatibility.
The airframe is constructed using radar-absorbent materials (RAM) and features a planform-aligned fuselage, minimizing radar cross-section (RCS). The length is approximately 58.3 feet (17.75 meters), with a wingspan of 39.3 feet (12 meters). The fuselage incorporates sawtooth-patterned panel edges, angled intakes, and internal weapon bays, reducing frontal and side radar reflections.
The cockpit is designed with a single-piece canopy hinged forward, optimizing pilot visibility and reducing radar reflections. The canopy is coated with IR/EM shielding. The cockpit layout is likely to include a large-area display (LAD), similar to the F-35, with touchscreen multifunction controls, helmet-mounted display systems (HMDS), and sensor fusion capabilities.
The aircraft uses trapezoidal wings with leading-edge root extensions (LERX) and canted vertical stabilizers. The tailplanes are all-moving horizontal stabilizers, enhancing pitch authority and agility. This configuration mirrors aspects of both F-22 and F-35 designs. Flight control surfaces are powered by digital fly-by-wire systems, enabling high angle-of-attack maneuvering and superior control in low-speed carrier landings.
The undercarriage comprises dual-wheel nose gear and single-wheel main gear, structurally reinforced for catapult launches and arrested landings. The arrestor hook is mounted ventrally and integrated into the tail boom. Wing folding mechanisms enable compact storage in carrier hangars.
While stealth is prioritized, engine nozzle design remains conventional, with circular nozzles reducing stealth efficiency in the rear aspect compared to serrated nozzles. Still, thermal suppression techniques and infrared signature masking coatings are reportedly integrated.
Air intakes use a diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) design, reducing mechanical complexity and RCS. Internal weapons bays are optimized for air-to-air and precision-guided munitions, though external hardpoints are available for missions where stealth is not prioritized.
Avionics include active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, infrared search and track (IRST), electronic warfare suites, and data link systems compatible with PLAN’s C4ISR infrastructure. Sensor fusion and low-probability-of-intercept communications are under testing.
Drawbacks include a potentially less advanced engine technology, affecting supercruise and thermal management compared to Western equivalents. However, its modular design, low observability, and carrier readiness represent a significant step in Chinese combat aviation.
Performance of the AVIC J-35
The AVIC J-35 is powered by two WS-13E afterburning turbofan engines, a Chinese-developed powerplant derived from the Russian RD-93, itself a variant of the RD-33 used on the MiG-29. Each WS-13E produces approximately 22,000 lbf (98 kN) with afterburner, giving the aircraft a total thrust of 44,000 lbf (196 kN). There are reports that a future upgrade may feature WS-19 engines, potentially offering 25,000 lbf (111 kN) per unit.
The estimated maximum speed is Mach 1.8, equivalent to 2,222 km/h (1,380 mph) at altitude. The combat radius is projected at 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) in stealth configuration with internal fuel. The ferry range is estimated at 1,900 nautical miles (3,500 km) with external tanks. Operational service ceiling is expected to reach 55,000 feet (16,765 meters).
Takeoff distance from a catapult is estimated at 260 meters (850 feet). The landing distance, using arrestor gear, is around 180 meters (600 feet) on a carrier deck.
The aircraft’s thrust-to-weight ratio, assuming a loaded weight of 38,000 lb (17,200 kg) and maximum thrust, approaches 1.15, enabling excellent acceleration and vertical climb performance. The maximum takeoff weight is estimated at 60,000 lb (27,200 kg), with an internal fuel capacity of 18,000 lb (8,165 kg).
Its AESA radar system is believed to offer 200+ km detection range for standard fighter-sized targets, and integrated IRST sensors allow passive tracking in complex environments. The electronic warfare suite includes radar warning receivers, self-protection jammers, and infrared countermeasures.
Compared to Western counterparts:
- The F-35C has a lower thrust-to-weight ratio (0.87 at max weight), but superior sensor fusion and networked warfare capabilities.
- The Dassault Rafale M lacks stealth, but offers high maneuverability and sensor performance.
- The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has similar range but lower stealth and speed characteristics.
- The J-15 exceeds the J-35 in payload but lacks stealth and modern sensors.
The J-35’s main performance limitations stem from engine technology. Supercruise capability is unlikely, and rear aspect radar visibility remains higher than U.S. stealth fighters due to circular nozzles. However, in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat with internal weapons and low radar signature, the J-35 may present serious challenges to 4.5-generation fighters.
Future upgrades with WS-19 engines, improved mission computers, and enhanced EW systems could close the gap with Western 5th-gen fighters. At current specifications, the J-35 is positioned between F-35C and legacy 4.5-generation aircraft, with advantages in stealth and range, but still trailing in avionics maturity and engine efficiency.
Variants of the AVIC J-35
As of 2025, the J-35 project comprises three main variants, each at different stages of development or concept.
- FC-31 Gyrfalcon (Initial Prototype)
This was the original airframe, first flown in 2014, featuring land-based configuration, conventional landing gear, and limited naval adaptation. Intended for export, it lacked arrestor gear and wing folding. It used RD-93 engines, later replaced by WS-13 series. The FC-31 remains a testbed platform for further refinement. - J-35 (Carrier-Based Variant)
The naval version evolved from the FC-31, incorporating folding wings, strengthened landing gear, arrestor hook, and catapult-launch compatibility. It features improved avionics, internal weapon bays, and modular electronic warfare architecture. The airframe is optimized for operations from Fujian-class carriers and is undergoing pre-series testing. It may include further stealth refinements not present in the FC-31. - J-35B (Projected STOVL Variant)
There is speculation about a Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) version, similar to the F-35B, for use on smaller carriers or amphibious assault ships. This variant would require lift-fan technology or vector-thrust mechanisms, but no physical prototype has emerged. If developed, it would expand PLAN’s air wing deployment options beyond CATOBAR carriers.
Each variant represents incremental evolution, shifting from a low-cost export fighter concept to a strategic naval platform. The J-35 design is modular, facilitating future upgrades in sensors, propulsion, and mission systems. No dedicated two-seat trainer variant has been disclosed, but such a configuration may appear post IOC to support pilot transition and electronic warfare roles.
Military missions of the AVIC J-35
The J-35 is designed for multirole naval missions, integrating stealth capability, precision strike, and air dominance in carrier operations. Its primary combat roles include air-to-air interception, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), maritime strike, and close air support (CAS).
Armament:
The aircraft is equipped with internal weapon bays, capable of carrying:
- PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) (estimated range: 200 km)
- PL-10 short-range IR-guided missiles
- LS-6 precision-guided bombs (250–500 kg)
- YJ-83 anti-ship missiles (externally mounted)
- KD-series air-to-ground missiles
- Electronic warfare pods and decoy dispensers (external)
Internal bay capacity is estimated at 2.2 tons (2,000 kg). External hardpoints allow additional 4–6 tons (3,600–5,400 kg) of ordnance for non-stealth missions.
Typical missions:
In peacetime patrols, the J-35 will conduct airspace policing, carrier strike group CAP (Combat Air Patrol), and ISR missions using integrated sensors. Its low RCS and long range make it suitable for air denial near disputed zones like the South China Sea.
In conflict scenarios, J-35 squadrons would:
- Penetrate contested airspace with low observability
- Conduct first-wave SEAD strikes using PL-15 and LS-6
- Escort high-value assets like AWACS and tankers
- Conduct maritime interdiction against enemy shipping and naval assets
- Launch precision attacks on air bases, radar sites, and infrastructure
It may operate in network-centric warfare, linked with PLANAEW aircraft, Type-055 destroyers, and satellite ISR, delivering integrated strike packages.
Competing aircraft:
The F-35C, Dassault Rafale M, F/A-18E/F, and Su-57 naval variants (hypothetical) represent peer competitors. The F-35C remains ahead in data fusion and mission systems, while the J-35 excels in range and payload flexibility.
Export status:
There is no official export customer. However, potential interest could come from Pakistan, Iran, or other non-aligned naval operators. Export will depend on engine independence, as previous reliance on Russian RD-series engines hindered FC-31 sales.
Status:
As of 2025, the J-35 remains in pre-series testing. Full operational deployment is expected by 2028, coinciding with the Fujian-class carrier commissioning. The aircraft will likely replace the J-15 progressively in carrier air wings, providing China with its first true stealth naval strike platform.
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