On July 8, 2025, CCTV reported on the J-15T carrier-based fighter at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, but the J-35 stealth fighter behind it, the green-painted prototype and the painted model, stole the spotlight. The mass-produced J-35 stealth fighter, carrier-based fighter, were all openly displayed, not only with green-painted prototypes, but also with painted models.
The gray-painted J-35 fighter is said to be delivered to the Chinese Air Force.
A gray-painted one, which is likely the production model of the J-35A fighter of the Chinese Air Force, has a closed window for the EOTS electro-optical detection equipment, not a cover, with reserved interfaces and structures. Currently, the J-35A fighter is in a low configuration version, while the J-35 carrier-based fighter uses a high configuration version equipped with EOTS electro-optical detection equipment. From the CCTV footage, it can be seen that the production of the J-35 series fighter jets has begun to develop in a massive way. In just a few shots, there are five J-35 fighters, all newly produced on the production line. It is estimated that between 2026 and 2027, three types of J-35 fighters will achieve an annual output of 50 units.
In the CCTV report, a green-painted J-35 was shown, which is likely a carrier-based fighter.
CCTV first exposed the production line of the J-35 fighter jet
The characteristics of fifth-generation fighters include the installation of EOTS electro-optical detection equipment. Fourth-generation fighters do not have EOTS systems, and may face the following challenges: limited detection capabilities, lack of infrared imaging capability in night or adverse weather conditions may lead to difficulties in target detection and identification; insufficient passive detection capabilities, making fighters more vulnerable to enemy detection in electronic warfare environments; decreased precision strike capabilities, affecting coordination among wingmen and friendly forces. In the era of stealth fighter combat, the EOTS system is a life-saving configuration.
The production of the J-35 carrier-based fighter has now gone into overdrive
The F-35 fighter jet of the US military is multi-purpose, and its shape has made many compromises for range and bomb load. In fact, the prototype X-35 also had a perfect stealth shape. The J-35 currently looks like an air superiority fighter. Under a conventional layout, it might have less internal space than the J-20. It probably won't have multi-purpose variants, such as the dual-seat version of the J-20.
The J-35 carrier-based fighter and the J-15T carrier-based fighter are likely to be produced on the same line.
The J-35 carrier-based fighter has started mass production to meet the needs of the Fujian aircraft carrier.
One hundred J-20s per year, now adding fifty J-35s, the world's strongest fifth-generation fighter fleet is about to appear. The J-35 is what the US military's F-35 stealth fighter should be: the configuration, form, and design of the J-35 are so smooth and natural. With the massive production of the J-35, the delivery to the Pakistan Air Force is about to come. Previously, we hoped that Pakistan could defend itself, but now there may be action in the southeast direction, definitely preventing India from causing trouble, preventing us from fighting on both sides. At this time, the best choice is to strengthen Pakistan's deterrence so that India does not dare to cause trouble on the western side. The J-35 fighter jets ordered by the Pakistan Air Force are expected to be received within two years, but possibly in single digits, to prepare for subsequent large-scale deployment. After all, the operation and maintenance system of fifth-generation fighters differs from that of fourth-generation fighters. The production of the J-35 for domestic use and exports, using the pulse production line of the super new factory, ensures efficient utilization, and the national investment cost must be recouped by accepting more foreign military orders. Our sixth-generation fighters have already appeared, why would fifth-generation fighters not be exported? We want to let the Pakistan Air Force promote our fifth-generation fighters.
The J-35A fighter jet of the Chinese Air Force
Whether it is the air force model, the navy carrier-based model, or the export version (special version for the Pakistan Air Force), the J-35 fighter jet will certainly be produced in small batches first. If it is produced together with the catapult-type J-15T carrier-based fighter, they should all be J-35 carrier-based fighters. In the picture, it is clearly the navy model J-35, first with a tailhook, second with a very thick front landing gear. It is said that a larger factory for the pulse production of the J-35 fighter jet is still under construction, and it is very large, an enormous new factory. The current demand for the J-15T carrier-based fighter is completely impossible to occupy an entire production line. Currently, the number of aircraft carriers is still small, and the construction cycle of aircraft carriers is long. Accompanied by three aircraft carriers, it is not necessary to have a dedicated production line. As the production of the J-35 carrier-based fighter surges, it is a good news for the Fujian aircraft carrier, because it will be equipped with the next generation of carrier-based fighters.
The J-35 fighter jet will meet the requirements of three versions
The J-35 shares the same production line with the J-15T, the J-35A and J-35AE share the same production line with the J-16, clearly distinguishing between sea and air, and from the current perspective, the J-35 carrier-based fighter model is about to replace the J-15T carrier-based fighter, and the J-35A and J-35AE will eventually replace the J-16, completing the full transition to the production of fifth-generation fighters. Now, the J-35 fighter jet is simultaneously developing three versions. The Chinese Air Force's J-35A stealth fighter will eventually replace all the J-10C and below models, the J-35 carrier-based fighter will be equipped with future aircraft carriers, and the J-35AE can be sold to countries that the United States is unwilling to sell the F-35 to, and once mass production begins, there will be no shortage of orders. Therefore, the order for the J-35AE stealth fighter of the Pakistan Air Force does not need to wait for a long time. In the future, it will be like manufacturing mobile phones to produce aircraft, and the version iteration of aircraft will be very fast, with each batch incorporating new technologies and improvements.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524569350762889782/
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