Overview
- CCTV aired footage of a J-35A bearing the AVIC logo and serial 001, a state TV showcase that signaled an export-marked airframe rather than a People’s Liberation Army jet.
- Hong Kong analyst Liang Guoliang said the aircraft shown was the J-35AE complete product, noting an electro‑optical targeting system set inside the fuselage to protect its stealth profile.
- Separate reporting cited PRC aerospace and China’s arms exporter CATIC in saying China is preparing to offer up to 40 J-35AEs to Pakistan, though no contract or timeline has been announced.
- A sale would be China’s first export of a stealth fighter and could strain India’s air defenses by giving Pakistan a lower‑visibility jet designed to fire long‑range missiles before detection.
- Key unknowns remain, including engine choice, weapons integration, production rate, training needs, and long‑term upkeep, even as Pakistan’s aeronautical complex already supports Chinese‑made fighters.