New Delhi:
In a game-changing offer, China is reportedly negotiating with Pakistan for Islamabad to procure 40 state-of-the-art stealth fighter jets from Beijing. The J-35A is China’s most advanced military aircraft.
If the deal goes through, Pakistan will become the first and only country in the world other than China to have a squadron of stealth J-35A multi-role fighter jets. This also marks the first export of China’s most advanced military aircraft by the Chinese government.
The J-35A is China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter. After the United States, China is the only country in the world with two fifth-generation military aircraft. Pakistan is considering replacing its aging U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets with French-made Mirage fighters.
A report in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, further citing Pakistani media, said China plans to deliver all 40 stealth fighters within two years. Since China does not depend on other countries for any parts of its aircraft, China’s entire defense industry is already ready for mass production.
The report also states that the Pakistan Air Force has already approved the purchase of these jets. Although there has been no confirmation from the Chinese government, such a deal could significantly strengthen Pakistan’s air defenses and tip the balance of power in the region by giving Islamabad stealth technology.
What is known about China’s J-35A stealth aircraft
The Shenyang J-35A stealth fighter is a twin-engine, single-seat, supersonic, air superiority multi-role fighter aircraft capable of performing missions on land and sea. The J-35A is the second fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by China after the J-20.
The J-35A’s design is similar to the American Lockheed Martin F-35, the only difference being that the former is twin-engined and the latter is single-engined. China is known for copying some US aircraft designs. The J-20 and the US F-22 Raptor are very similar in design, with the exception of the canards found on the J-20. The Chengdu J-10, also known as the “Energetic Dragon,” is another Chinese aircraft that appears to be a copy of the US F-16 fighter jet.
US F-22 Raptor (left), Chinese J-20 (right)
According to a report in the Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, “The J-35A functions within the framework of both stealth and counter-stealth combat. Its mission focuses on gaining and maintaining air superiority, and Eliminate 4th/5th Generation Fighters” It not only intercepts hostile targets in the air, including fighters, bombers, and cruise missiles, but also deploys ground/ground air defenses. ” This article was published on the day China first unveiled the jet last month.
China plans to introduce this aircraft into its Air Force and Navy, exactly as the United States uses the F-35, with F-35A for the Air Force and F-35B for the Marine Corps. , and three variants of the F-35B. -35°C in the US Navy.
Illumination of a US military F-35 flying in formation
pakistan economic crisis
Pakistan, which is surviving on bailouts from the IMF and World Bank despite a deep economic crisis in the country, is reportedly going ahead with the deal. But it’s unclear how such a huge deal would be financed. Defense experts say it would not be surprising if China decides to extend new loans that Pakistan cannot repay.
Pakistan already owes so much money to Beijing that it is economically impossible for Islamabad to repay it. Many experts believe that Pakistan will at some point need to sell state assets, or even parts of the country, to resolve its debts.
Although the topic is ripe in Islamabad, the Chinese government has not confirmed the sale of stealth fighter jets in official communications. I didn’t even mention that.
When China publicly displayed its J-35A stealth fighter for the first time at the annual air show in Zhuhai in November, Pakistan Air Force leaders were seen visiting the exhibition and meeting with Chinese officials. It was done.
“The foundations for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter have already been laid,” the Pakistan Air Force’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said in January, as reported by the South China Morning Post. The J-31 is considered a land-based version of the J-35A, and was initially thought to be a naval aircraft, but was later released as a multi-role fighter.
Despite Pakistan’s inability to repay, China has steadily increased military supplies to Islamabad over time by modernizing all three branches of Pakistan’s military, spending billions of dollars on the country’s defense budget. Ta.
China also jointly developed and operates the J-17 Thunder fighter jet with Pakistan. In terms of navy, China has already handed over four advanced naval frigates to Pakistan.
Talks between China and Pakistan over reported agreement
Chinese army chief General Zhang Youxia visited Pakistan in November, shortly after unveiling the J-35A stealth aircraft, during which he held private talks with Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir.
Zhang Xuan is vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the general headquarters of the Chinese military. President Xi Jinping heads the committee and receives direct briefings on these meetings.
After the meeting, the Inter-Services Public Relations Service (ISPR), the media arm of Pakistan’s military, issued a statement saying that the meeting between the two sides was aimed at “mutual interests, regional security dynamics, measures for regional stability, and strengthening military capabilities. “We focused on that,” he said. Bilateral Defense Cooperation.”
Is Pakistan’s sovereignty threatened?
According to Pakistani media, during recent talks, China has increased pressure on Islamabad to allow Beijing’s security companies and agencies to send boots on the ground in Pakistan.
China has reportedly deployed an initial lot of over 20,000 soldiers and security personnel to various locations along the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is being built through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). We are planning to send them. A turbulent region of Balochistan.
Pakistani media reports state that Islamabad is deploying over 30,000 dedicated military and paramilitary personnel solely to protect Chinese workers working on projects related to the so-called CPEC. There is.
The report further states that Pakistan has so far resisted in some way Beijing’s pressure to deploy Chinese troops across Pakistan, citing sovereignty concerns.
