Pakistan and the US factor as China looks to sell its J-35 stealth jets
Last month, the US published the fine print of a US$686 million upgrade deal for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The deal is for data link systems, new encryption gear and a refit that keeps the jets flying until 2040. The notice says Pakistan can protect the technology to “substantially the same degree” as the US government. The Pakistan Air Force is also the only declared interested buyer of…
Pakistan and the United States are both considering China's J-35 stealth fighter jets. Last month, the US announced a $686 million upgrade deal for Pakistan's F-16 jets, which includes data link systems, new encryption gear, and a refit that will keep the jets flying until 2040. Pakistan’s Air Force is the only known buyer for China’s J-35 stealth fighter, which is a major advancement in technology.
The Chinese jet first flew in 2024 and may appear again at the upcoming biennial air show. China's Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has marketed the J-35 as a cheaper alternative to the US F-35 stealth fighter. In June of last year, Pakistan’s government posted an offer for 40 J-35s, KJ-500 early-warning planes, and HQ-19 air defenses, but it was quickly taken down.
In May, Pakistan’s air force signed an initial collaborative agreement to buy J-35 jets, but no details were provided. Last year, Defence Security Asia reported that the first J-35s would arrive by early 2026, but none arrived, and Pakistani sources denied online claims that some had. The success of this deal depends on the number of jets that can be spared after fulfilling domestic orders.
Pakistan’s defence budget for this financial year is 3.01 trillion rupees ($10.7 billion), with 573 billion rupees going to the air force for salaries and other expenses. When Pakistan bought advanced American F-16s after 9/11, Washington required a US technical security team and strict control over the jets. The US has been strict in its dealings with other countries, such as throwing Turkey out of the F-35 program for purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system.
Recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a sale cannot go ahead until the S-400 issue is resolved. Pakistan has maintained its aircraft separate, keeping the J-10CEs built in China at Minhas airbase, away from the F-16 bases. However, the same arrangement may not work with the J-35 stealth jets, as there is speculation about potential integration and control issues.
Other potential buyers, such as the UAE, have faced similar challenges, as they nearly abandoned an F-35 deal due to concerns over protecting American technology while working closely with China.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
