First Foreign Customer for 'Chinese F-35'

Pakistan has ordered up to forty Chinese J-35 aircraft, becoming the first foreign user of China's latest stealth fighter. The J-35A, first publicly displayed in 2024, is seen as China's answer to the American F-35. The deal includes KJ-500 AWACS aircraft and HQ-19 air defense systems. Pakistani pilots have already begun training in China, with the first deliveries expected in two months.

The purchase is part of Pakistan's broader military modernization strategy, influenced by tensions with India. Analysts suggest this could accelerate India's development of fifth-generation fighters.