Key Points and Summary – Despite being heavily marketed as an affordable alternative to the F-35, China’s J-35A stealth fighter has failed to secure a single foreign buyer.
-Recent reports of a significant sale to Pakistan were officially denied by Islamabad, with the defense minister suggesting the story may have been Chinese propaganda.
-This analysis examines the complex reasons for the jet’s limited export success, including its unproven combat record, the high operational costs of a twin-engine stealth platform, and the preference of many nations for the longstanding, trusted defense relationships offered by Western suppliers.
Why Hasn’t Anyone Bought China’s J-35A Sold On The Open Market?
Last November, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) officially announced it would adopt the J-35A medium-weight multi-role stealth fighter “mainly for air combat operations,” the PRC announced.
With the announcement, China joined the U.S. as the only two countries to operate two distinct stealth-fighter types.
Later, in June, Bloomberg and other media outlets reported that Pakistan had agreed to buy the Shenyang J-35A. The reports described Pakistan as the first overseas buyer of the aircraft.
Following the news, shares of AVC Shenyang Aircraft Corporation rose 10 percent, suggesting positive market sentiment around a potential breakthrough in China’s defense exports.
However, sales of the heavily discounted J-35A have been nonexistent. It is fair to ask why the much-hyped aircraft has not sold on the market.
Pakistan Officially Denies the Sale Reports
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, during a televised interview, stated that the reported agreement did not exist.
“I think it is only in the media. It is good for sale, Chinese defense sales, you know,” Asif said, indirectly suggesting the story was intended to promote China’s defense industry.
The reports undercut by Asif’s denial held that Pakistan had made a deal with China to purchase 40 of the J-35A aircraft, and that Pakistani pilots were already being trained in China to fly them.
This news may have been planted in the media to generate interest in the J-35A in the global market, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria.
Saudi Arabia Presents An Intriguing Dilemma
The Saudis are frustrated with U.S. arms sales restrictions and could be in the market for the J-35A. The Saudis wanted to get into the F-35 program, but are not allowed, for several reasons.
First, Washington has an agreement with Israel to will allow the latter a qualitative edge over other Middle Eastern countries in the military platforms it can purchase. Further, the U.S. has concerns over the security of classified software.
The United States closely guards the F-35’s proprietary software, including the source code, effectively keeping users reliant on American support and permission to use it. Saudi Arabia wants to operate and upgrade the aircraft independently.
The U.S. is also leery of the Kingdom buying Chinese-made air defense missiles, which it feels would compromise the jet’s stealth and intelligence-sharing capabilities.
The Saudis, for their part, worry about Washington’s ability to cut the flow of arms, as they did in 2021 over concerns about the human rights of Yemeni civilians.
The Chinese, fresh from pushing the J-35A at the Paris Air Show, leapt at the chance to take advantage of this U.S.-Saudi split. Beijing offered to sell Riyadh the J-35A, as well as advanced drones and ballistic missile systems – weapons that the U.S. is unable or unwilling to provide – while also partnering with Saudi Arabia’s emerging arms industry.
Saudis Buy 70-80 percent of Their Arms From the US
Saudi Arabia is the fifth-largest global spender on defense, with an annual expenditure of nearly $70 billion. Approximately 80 percent of this goes to purchase U.S.-made platforms. However, the Kingdom aims to produce 50 percent of its weapons domestically by 2030.
Saudi Arabia maintains close ties to Washington, but it has begun seeking military ties elsewhere – not just with China, but also with France.
There are limits to China’s ability to work with the Saudi government, because of Beijing’s closeness with Iran.
Will China Find A Market For the J-35A?
Eventually, the Chinese will export the J-35, but there are factors that hold it back.
Diplomatic relationships drive the global arms market, and many nations prefer to stick with longstanding suppliers for continuity and support. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has been a long-time buyer of advanced U.S. weapons, and its defense philosophy mirrors that of Washington.
The J-35A is a twin-engine, medium-weight stealth fighter, which makes it inherently costly to purchase, fly, and maintain. Some nations may opt for less costly, more numerous alternatives.
And since it is a new aircraft, the J-35A lacks the long-term combat history and operational reliability provided by established platforms such as the F-35, which is in use with 20 countries.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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