What You Need to Know: China’s newest stealth fighter, the J-35 (also known as the FC-31 Gyrfalcon), has officially arrived, marking another step in the nation’s fifth-generation aviation capabilities.

-Distinct from the U.S. F-35 in several ways, including a twin-engine design, the J-35 incorporates features that may have drawn inspiration from the F-35’s configuration and aesthetics.

-Expected to carry 18,000 pounds of munitions, including both internal and external loads, the J-35 is offered in two variants: the land-based J-35A and a carrier-based J-35. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has celebrated its debut as a significant addition to China’s strategic aviation assets.

J-35 Stealth Fighter Has Arrived 

Generally, when one thinks of the number thirty-five in the context of 5th Generation stealth fighters, chances are that person thinks of the U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II, one of a long line of innovative warbirds from Lockheed Martin’s legendary “Skunk Works” division. 

Yes, Russia has the Sukhoi Su-35 “Flanker-E,” but that isn’t a stealth fighter, and neither is the Swedish Air Force’s Cold War-era Saab 35 “Draken.” Meanwhile, when one thinks of “China” and “stealth fighter” in the same sentence, chances are that person thinks of the Chengdu J-20 Weilong.

Well, it turns out that they also have an up-and-coming stealth fighter known as the J-35, more specifically the Shenyang J-35, AKA the FC-31 Gu ying. 

As recently as November 4, 2024, my colleague Harrison Kass reported for The National Interest that the J-35A was expected to debut at the Zhuhai Airshow: China’s premier aerospace trade expo, on or about November 12, 2024. But now an even more recent report indicates that the Gyrfalcon won’t even have to wait that long for her unveiling.

The Latest & Greatest

At least, the greatest if you’re part of the pro-China lobby; otherwise, not so great.

The most up-to-date source that this writer is aware of is a November 5 2024 article penned by Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway for The Warzone, “The front three-quarter view of the jet, seen taxiing, reveals several new details and sheds more light on features that were previously more hidden…Critical outright differences exist, including its twin-engine powerplant compared to the F-35’s large single turbofan engine. While the F-35 was designed from the start to accommodate a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version, this requirement is absent from the Chinese design. Many elements were at least heavily inspired if not cribbed from the F-35, including its DSI inlets, canopy, and basic configuration.”

Messrs. Newdick and Rogoway wish to emphasize that, contrary to prior allegations and assertions, the J-35A is not a complete carbon copy/knockoff of the F-35, the multiple similarities notwithstanding.

J-35 Initial History and Speculative Specifications

The earliest indications of the J-35 program date back to circa September 2011, in the guise of a photograph of a model labeled “F-60.” In September of the following year, unofficial and poor-quality photos of a possible fully assembled aircraft made an appearance on the Internet. On October 31, 2012, the prototype made its maiden flight, and the following month the J-31 airframe was publicly revealed at the 2012 edition of the Zhuhai Airshow.

Presumably, the J-35 will pack a payload of 18,000 pounds (8,164 kilograms). Including four internal munitions weighing a total of 4,400 pounds. (1,995 kilograms). The external arsenal consists of six hardpoints with a capacity of 13,000 pounds. (5,896 kilograms). Primary armament includes the PL-10 “Thunderbolt-10;” NATO reporting name CH-AA-9, short-range missile and the PL-12 Thunderbolt-12” AKA Pen Lung; NATO reporting name CH-AA-7 Adze, medium-range beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

The Way Forward?

The PLA released some additional useful information, clarifying that the J-35A designation is being bestowed upon the land-based version of the fighter, with the carrier-based version being dubbed simply the J-35; the two versions have different rudder sizes & configurations. 

The land-based iteration logically omits the catapult launch bar and uses a single nose wheel, as opposed to the twin wheels found on the naval variant, as well as larger tailfins.

As a P.R. gesture, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) announced that, “The J-35 officially announced that the hanging tail seventy-five is painted to celebrate the birthday of the Air Force!”

There remain some unanswered questions, such as how far advanced the PLAAF’s plans for the J-35A might be. It will also be interesting to see if the final operational versions of the J-35 and J-35A omit a cannon like the J-20 already does.

About the Author: 

Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor for National Security Journal (NSJ). He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch, The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Simple Flying. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS).

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