Delhi, New Delhi: China and Pakistan are apparently in negotiations for Islamabad to purchase 40 cutting-edge stealth fighter jets from Beijing, which would be a revolutionary proposal. China’s most sophisticated military aircraft is the J-35A.
Pakistan will be the only nation outside of China to possess a squadron of the stealthy J-35A multi-role fighter fighters if the contract is finalized. Additionally, it will be Beijing’s first export of its most sophisticated military aircraft.
China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter plane is the J-35A. China is the only nation in the world with two fifth-generation military aircraft, after the United States. Pakistan wants to replace its aging fleet of French Mirage jets and American-made F-16s.
The South China Morning Post, published in Hong Kong, reports that China will deliver all 40 stealth fighter jets in less than two years, citing Pakistani media as well. Since China doesn’t rely on any other nation for any of the aircraft’s components, its whole defense sector is already prepared for mass manufacture.
The procurement of these jets has already received approval from Pakistan’s Air Force, according to the article. Beijing has not confirmed the purchase, but if it does happen, Pakistan’s air defense would be greatly strengthened, and the acquisition of stealth technology by Islamabad may potentially change the regional balance.
Key Details of the Deal
- The J-35A is a supersonic, single-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter jet that can be used for both air superiority and ground assault operations. Its capabilities are similar to those of the U.S. F-35.
- Delivery Schedule: The jets are anticipated to be delivered in two years, helping to replace Pakistan’s aging fleet of French Mirage fighters and American-made F-16s.
- Strategic Implications: Given that India has long been Pakistan’s main regional adversary, this acquisition has the potential to drastically shift the balance of power in South Asia. Stealth technology could improve Pakistan’s air defense capabilities and possibly increase regional military tensions.
The Chinese Communist Party’s newspaper, the Global Times, reported that the J-35A operates in both stealth and counter-stealth combat settings. Gaining and retaining air superiority, destroying adversarial fourth and fifth generation fighter jets and ground and surface air defense units, and intercepting aerial hostile targets such fighters, bombers, and cruise missiles are the key objectives of this operation. Last month, on the day China first displayed the jet, the article was published.
Similar to how the US uses the F-35, which comes in three versions—the F-35A for the Air Force, the F-35B for the Marine Corps, and the F-35C for the US Navy—China intends to integrate the aircraft into the Air Force and the Navy.
The economic crisis in Pakistan
Pakistan, which is surviving on bailout packages from the IMF and World Bank, is apparently moving forward with the agreement despite the country’s grave economic crisis. However, it is unclear how such a huge deal will be funded. Defense analysts say it won’t be shocking if China decides to give Pakistan another loan that it won’t be able to repay.
Beijing’s debt to Pakistan has already grown to such an extent that Islamabad cannot afford to repay it. According to a number of experts, Pakistan will eventually need to sell off national assets and possibly even portions of the nation in order to pay off the debt.
Although there is a lot of excitement in Islamabad, Beijing has not issued an official statement confirming the sale of its stealth fighter plane. It hasn’t been mentioned in passing either.
Top Pakistan Air Force officers visited the exhibition and were observed chatting with senior Chinese officials when China first officially exhibited the J-35A stealth fighter in November at the biennial air show in Zhuhai city.
The South China Morning Post reported that Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, the chief of the Pakistan Air Force, stated in January that “the foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid.” The J-31 is regarded as the land counterpart of the J-35A, which was first introduced as a multi-role fighter jet but was later thought to be a naval aircraft.
China has gradually expanded its military supply to Islamabad by modernizing all three branches of the Pakistani military and investing billions of dollars in the nation’s defense budget, despite Pakistan’s inability to repay.
Additionally, China and Pakistan have collaborated to produce and operate the J-17 Thunder fighter jet. China has previously given Pakistan four cutting-edge naval frigates for its fleet.
Economic Context
Pakistan is working on this military upgrading even though it is experiencing a serious economic crisis. Given the nation’s reliance on foreign financial aid from institutions like the IMF and World Bank, the deal’s financial details are still up in the air.
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