China's J-35A Stealth Fighter Could Be Better than US Air Force’ F-35 

On November 5, at China’s Zhuhai Air Show for military technology, Beijing unmasked its J-35A stealth fighter, drawing attention with the US Air Force expressing surprise and concerns over similar features with its US F-35 Lightning II.  

China’s J-35A

During an interview with Air and Space Forces Magazine on November 19, US Air Force Chief of Staff, General David W. Allvin commented on the F-35 Lightning II clone, saying, “It’s still relatively new. However, yes, it’s quite evident; you could place it next to ours and see, at least, from where we think they derived their blueprints.” 

Did China Steal the Idea? 

The event rekindles concerns over China’s history of stealing sensitive US military technology. Since 2007, the US has accused China of hacking defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, to access the F-35 program data.  

These allegations gained further traction after Edward Snowden’s 2015 leaks, which disclosed that Chinese hackers targeted US defense contractors. 

US officials have said in the past that classified information about the F-35 remains secure. However, Gen. Allvin’s recent comments have expressed doubts about the security of unclassified data and the influence of espionage on China’s development of the J-35A stealth fighters. 

The J-35A Stealth Fighter 

The J-35A took center stage for its sleek design and maneuverability due to its heavy resemblance to the F-35 and how they share several similar features, including a tailplane wing design, which is different from the canard-wing configuration of China’s earlier J-20 Mighty Dragon.  

The J-35A fighter is also equipped with land-attack capabilities, similar to the F-35, and is expected to have a carrier-based variant, the J-35, which has already undergone test flights aboard China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier.  

This development positions China as the second nation in the world to operate two types of stealth aircraft, after the US. 

J-35A vs F-35 

While there are similarities between the US F-35, such as a tailplane wing design, notable differences exist. The F-35 is a single-engine aircraft, whereas the J-35A features a twin-engine configuration for thrust and redundancy improvements. Experts describe the J-35A as “slender and sleeker” compared to the F-35, though both prioritize stealth and aerodynamic efficiency.  

According to South China Morning Post, the US Air Force’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) was criticised for a Veterans Day poster mistakenly featuring an image resembling China’s J-35A fighter jet, intensifying discussions about the similarities between the two aircraft. 

At the end of the day, the J-35A’s introduction and its striking resemblance to the F-35 have intensified discussions about Chinese stealth fighters and the possibility of intellectual property theft. As tensions rise, the US will likely continue to examine China’s military developments, particularly in the field of stealth aviation. 

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