Overview
- CCTV footage that aired Friday showed a J-35AE with AVIC export markings and serial 001 rolling out of a hangar, in the clearest public display of an export variant.
- Pakistan is widely cited as the likely first buyer with plans for about 30 to 40 aircraft and reports of pilot conversion training in China, though Islamabad has not confirmed a purchase and its defense minister has denied any finalized deal.
- The jet shown carried an internally mounted electro‑optical targeting system, a layout used to preserve stealth, and a Hong Kong commentator called it a complete product ready for export.
- If the sale proceeds, it would be the first export of a Chinese stealth fighter and analysts say it could reshape India–Pakistan airpower dynamics and raise escalation risks in a crisis.
- Key details remain unverified, including engine choice, exact specifications, delivery timelines, and price claims of $35–$80 million, and China still accounts for a small share of global arms exports according to SIPRI.