China’s J-35 Stealth Fighter: Inside the Navy’s New F-35 Rival
China’s new J-35 stealth fighter – a carrier-capable offshoot of the Shenyang FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” program – marks a major leap in Beijing’s military aviation ambitions. Developed as the country’s second fifth-generation warplane after the J-20, the J-35 is designed to bring stealth and advanced multirole capabilities to the People’s Liberation Army Navy. Often compared to the U.S. F-35, this twin-engine jet is poised to deploy aboard China’s latest aircraft carriers, potentially transforming the balance of air power in the Asia-Pacific. Below, we examine the J-35’s developmental origins, technical specifications, strategic role, comparisons to other 5th-generation fighters, expert insights, and recent rumors surrounding this cutting-edge fighter. The J-35’s story begins with the Shenyang FC-31, an early 2010s private venture by Aviation Industry Corporation of China to build a 5th-generation export fighter. The FC-31 first flew on October 31, 2012 armyrecognition.com, showcasing a mid-sized stealth design sometimes informally dubbed “J-31.” A second improved prototype took to the air in 2016 with refined features like diverterless supersonic inlets and reshaped tailfins armyrecognition.com. Initially, no PLA service had committed to the FC-31, leaving it a tech demonstrator in search of customers armyrecognition.com.
