China's New Sword: Stealth fighters led by the J-35 make public debut

China's V-Day parade on September 3 came as a shock to many die-hard military fans, as a streak of new, sci-fi-looking weapons made their debut with almost no details provided. CGTN's "The New Sword" is a series of reports that explain these weapons using publicly available information that has not yet been thoroughly introduced to the English-language internet.

The latest military parade offered the world its first official look at the J-35 carrier-based stealth fighter, a new milestone for China's naval aviation. This jet marks a strategic shift for the People's Liberation Army Navy, representing its transition from a coastal defense force to one capable of long-range, blue-water operations.

As the carrier-based "twin" of the J-35A stealth fighter debuted at Airshow China 2024, the J-35 shares many technologies and components with its sibling. This design approach significantly saves on development time and maintenance costs.

The J-35 is compatible with both catapult launch and ski-jump takeoff systems, making it a versatile asset ready to be deployed on the Fujian, the first aircraft carrier wholly designed and built by China that uses electromagnetic catapults for aircraft launches, a significant upgrade from previous Chinese carriers which used ski-jumps.

The J-35 also represents a leap forward in combat capability compared to the J-15 series. While the J-15 focuses on high maneuverability, the J-35 prioritizes stealth. It has an internal weapons bay, allowing it to carry missiles while maintaining a low radar signature. This gives the J-35 a decisive edge in beyond-visual-range combat, enabling it to engage enemy aircraft first.

Beyond the J-35: An Evolving Air Force

The parade also highlighted other key platforms of China's air power. A close-up shot of the J-20S fighter revealed a two-seat cockpit, signifying an upgrade to the J-20.

According to military commentator Wei Dongxu, this two-seat version not only supports longer missions but also allows for better collaboration with combat drones. This "1+1>2" synergy is a step toward building a more intelligent, integrated aerial combat system.

Additionally, the J-15 series also welcomed a new variant, the J-15DT, with the letters "DT" representing dianci tanshe, the Chinese pinyin for "electromagnetic catapult."

The Y-20 transport jets are now equipped with domestically produced engines, replacing foreign ones.