China’s J-35 stealth fighter roared into the skies for its maiden flight, signalling a high-speed production run of its carrier-capable fifth-generation jet and marking a bold challenge to US naval air dominance in the Indo-Pacific.
According to reports, two J-35 fighters conducted their first flight on January 6, 2026.
Footage of the flight of one of these aircraft, initially published by manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), was posted to X by China Military Bugle, the official press account of China’s Armed Forces.
The 20-second-long video captures the jet accelerating down a hazy runway, rotating, and climbing steeply with bright afterburner plumes visible.
It must be noted that this was the first flight of two fresh-from-the-factory production J-35 jets, not the prototype’s inaugural flight.
Nonetheless, it highlights the maturity of the J-35 program amid plans to operationally deploy the aircraft aboard the recently commissioned Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier.
Notably, some sources suggested that the aircraft seen in the images may be the first of its type to roll off the production line in 2026.
Through the Lens: Footage shows a newly manufactured J-35 stealth fighter jet taking off with afterburner power on the morning of January 6, 2026, marking the "maiden flight of the new year" of China’s AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). #Chinamilitary #ChinaMilBugle… pic.twitter.com/5GJ8vSr7JG
— China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) January 7, 2026
China is believed to have ramped up production of the J-35 series of aircraft, with an eye on expanding deliveries to the Navy and Air Force in 2026-27.
Hurin, a dedicated PLA analyst, speculated on X that “China could produce about 50 J-35/J-35A this year, possibly more if the J-15 or J-16 lines have ceased production.”
With the deployment of J-35, China will become only the second country, after the United States (F-35 series), to field an indigenously developed carrier-borne stealth aircraft.
This would be another such milestone for China after it became only the second country in the world to field two different types of stealth fighters, including the J-35A unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024, and the J-20 Mighty Dragon. But more importantly, it would allow China to transition into a blue-water navy with stealth airpower.
Compared to ski-jump launches on Shandong- and Liaoning-class carriers, integration with Fujian’s electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) would enable the J-35 to conduct longer-range missions, carry full fuel loads, and carry larger payloads.
This would essentially challenge the US naval dominance and support anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) tactics by extending the PLAN’s power projection far into the Indo-Pacific, encompassing the contested South China Sea and Philippine Sea, as well as beyond the First Island Chain.
Additionally, the J-35 would be able to penetrate enemy defences to achieve air superiority, conduct precision strikes, or perform anti-ship roles during combat, unlike the non-stealthy J-15 jet, which is currently the primary aircraft for carrier ops aboard Liaoning and Shandong.
The Leap In Capability–The J-35 Stealth Jet
Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) under AVIC, the J-35 evolved from the FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” technology demonstrator, and became China’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter optimised for aircraft carrier operations.
The aircraft is designed for CATOBAR (Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) operations, making it compatible with China’s advanced carriers, such as the Type 003 Fujian, and perhaps the fourth nuclear-powered carrier currently under development.
The J-35 features a low-observable design with smooth, angled surfaces, diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), and extensive use of radar-absorbent materials to minimise its radar cross-section (RCS). Additionally, like all stealth fighters, the airframe incorporates internal weapons bays to maintain stealth during combat missions, allowing it to carry beyond-visual-range missiles like the PL-15 and short-range PL-10.
However, it can deploy internal munitions for stealthy ingress or external hard points in “beast mode” for heavier loads, much like the J-35A of the PLA Air Force and the J-20.
Unlike the land-based J-35A, the J-35 includes folding wings for efficient storage in carrier hangars, a reinforced twin-wheel nose landing gear with a catapult launch bar for EMALS compatibility, and a robust arrestor hook for arrested recoveries.
Notably, the wings are larger than those on the J-35A to improve low-speed handling during carrier approaches.
The overall structure is strengthened with corrosion-resistant coatings to withstand the harsh maritime environment and repeated high-stress deck operations.
The aircraft was earlier believed to be powered by the twin WS-19, but PLA researchers earlier identified a more advanced WS-21 engine in leaked J-35 photos on Weibo.
The J-35 features cutting-edge capabilities: supercruise capability, high thrust redundancy beneficial for over-water flights, and a top speed exceeding Mach 1.8.
The avionics suite of the J-35 includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, infrared search and track (IRST), a distributed aperture system for 360-degree awareness, and advanced sensor fusion for networked warfare. Meanwhile, the cockpit features handholds for assistance from the deck crew and a modern glass display with helmet-mounted cues.
The J-35 does appear to incorporate many design elements reminiscent of the F-35. Its diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI), canopy, and overall aerodynamic configuration strongly resemble those of the American stealth fighter, along with the ’35’ in its designation.
However, the J-35 is generally more slender and streamlined than the F-35, largely due to the absence of a Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) requirement.
The J-35 prioritises speed, range, and twin-engine reliability over the F-35C’s superior sensor integration and its more mature all-aspect stealth. Experts state that even though the F-35C is a battle-tested platform, the J-35’s design would enable potentially higher kinematic performance and cost-effective production scaling.
The EurAsian Times cannot independently verify these claims, but we understand that the J-35 has advanced significantly in recent years.
Chinese military experts, such as former People’s Liberation Army instructor Song Zhongping, inferred in July 2025 that the aircraft had entered production and was approaching operational readiness for deployment aboard China’s latest aircraft carrier.
The assertion was based on the markings and flight characteristics of two J-35 prototypes seen flying together in images that surfaced online at the time.
The images in question showed clear “Chinese navy” markings on the jets’ fuselages and “Flying Shark” insignia on their tails, the strongest visual indication yet of their formal integration into the PLA Navy.
“The Flying Shark insignia confirms the J-35 has joined the navy’s carrier aviation force. It indicates the aircraft may have been in active service and is building combat and logistical support capabilities,” former PLA instructor Song was quoted as saying by South China Morning Post at the time.
Meanwhile, popular Chinese military aviation researcher Andreas Rupprecht wrote on social media platform X, “Wow … as it seems, also the PLAN Naval Aviation has finally revealed its first two operational (?) J-35 fighters.”
In September 2025, the J-35 carrier-based stealth aircraft completed successful electromagnetic catapult launches and arrested landings on the aircraft carrier Fujian during sea trials, becoming the world’s first non-US stealth fighter to operate via electromagnetic catapults (EMALS), as reported by the EurAsian Times at the time.
This marked an extraordinary feat for Beijing, which has relied on the J-15, a reverse-engineered variant of the Su-33, for decades.
At the time, military observers stated that while both J-35s were flying in close formation, neither aircraft had “pitot tubes,” or conventional nose-mounted airspeed probes. They surmised that the lack of “pitot tubes” was an obvious indication that the model had successfully completed its testing and prototype stages and had entered official production.
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