J-35A fighter (PLAAF) + FC-31
- Thread starter ACuriousPLAFan
- Start date
A comment in the thread claimed that UAE test pilot went to SAC last October.
Is this the reason why the Saudis are suddenly getting the F35?
Hi,
saudis won’t be able to get hand on F35 not before 2032 or may be onward, but if UAE is willing
to get J35 probably 2028/29 so I think Saudis should also go that route of getting J35E.
thank you
Is it not too early? China would not indulge so quickly to export it. PLAAF may evaluate it, improve it and insure it's ready for mass deployment. Then comes the export . IMHO J-35A is still in early production, testing and evaluation phase. Initial operational induction has just started and is going on. J-35A has not been fully inducted yet. It may take 1-2 years at least.
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Don't know if it still stand, but the early assumption was that J-35A as a derivative of J-35 was primarily intented for export while J-35 itself is ordered by PLAN. If that is still the case, we will see foreign customers getting J-35A before PLAAF. Anyway with J-20 in high numbers, PLAAF isn't in a hurry to get another type of stealth fighter and its accompanied logistic complications.
J-35A would be at better pace then J-20. But like J-20A/S J-35A/J-35 would need testing, evaluation and improvements during initial induction stages. These would be lesser time periods than J-20 But still it is an elaborate process.
Most likely J-35A will outnumber J-20 down the line, by a big margin. J-20 is still considered as elite heavy fighter, while J-35A is expected to be a work horse of 5th gen. Rumor has it J-35AE might be better geared than J-35A, because the air force wanted to cut down on cost to make it the backbone of air force.
Some times in the future, say 2035, 6th gen is still low in number, J-20 might be in the 800s, while J-35 well over a thousand.
Most likely by 2035 J-20A/S would be 500, same would be true for J-35. J-20 would be used for training only. If it turns to successful in operation and performance than 1000+ J-35A would be exported to other air forces. J-36, J-50 And their UAVs would be operationally active by 2035, hopefully.