The Zhuhai Air Show is set to take place in Zhuhai on November 12th, where the stealth fighter J-35A will be showcased for the first time, being touted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as “world’s top stealth performance.” Experts point out that the CCP has a tendency to exaggerate and boast. Not only does the CCP have a history of plagiarism in its fighter aircraft, but the companies producing them are plagued by corruption and infighting, leading to potential security risks in the fighter jets.
According to official CCP sources, three stealth fighters will be on display at the Zhuhai Air Show for the first time, including the showcased J-35A, the Russian Su-57 making its first appearance in China, and the Chinese J-20. CCP military expert Fu Qianzha proclaimed the J-35A as having “world’s best stealth performance,” with CCP media extensively promoting it. Some media even claim that “Taiwan’s most advanced fighter stands no chance against the J-35A.”
Regarding the CCP’s hype in the media, Shen Mingshi, Director of the Institute of National Security at the National Defense University of Taiwan, told Dajiyuan, “A knockoff version can never surpass the original.”
He explained that the J-35A is essentially the FC-31, originally designed for the air force, but later modified into the J-35 for carrier-based operations, essentially a copy of Russia’s carrier-based aircraft. Furthermore, the FC-31 was initially mimicking the U.S. F-35. Shen emphasized that under this patchwork of imitation from different countries, claiming superiority over others in performance amounts to self-praise.
Shen also stated that the CCP’s self-praise of its fighter jets is driven by the desire of the military and defense enterprises to secure higher budgets from central authorities and officials seeking promotion opportunities. However, there is no evidence to support their claim of being the “world’s best,” including engine, stealth technology, and materials, which still lag behind the U.S.
Public records show that the J-35A or J-35 (English abbreviation J-35) was formerly the technology verification aircraft FC-31, developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Shenyang Aircraft Research Institute and produced by AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Company. The FC-31 prototype with the serial number 31001, the first verification aircraft of the 310 project, was leaked in 2012. In October 2014, the improved version of the FC-31 fighter flew for the first time. The aircraft has since been sighted and confirmed in multiple images.
Military channel host Mark also expressed to Dajiyuan that CCP fighter jets have a history of plagiarism, as the predecessor of J-35A, FC-31, and the J-20 produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry compete with each other. Mark highlighted that the J-35’s biggest issue lies in its subpar engine performance compared to the single-engine F-35, potentially impacting its stealth capabilities.
Mark noted that U.S. stealth aircraft, from the earliest F-17 to the F-35, as well as bombers like the B2 evolving to B21, have advanced radar-absorbent coatings on their fuselages that keep evolving. The coatings have become lighter in color and easier to maintain, with their stealth contribution exceeding 50% according to U.S. experts, surpassing design alone, a level of secrecy CCP may not be able to achieve.
Mark emphasized that while the CCP claims to be the world’s best, its aircraft have not been tested in real combat, unlike the U.S., which refrains from such self-proclamation.