Concern for India as China-Pakistan alliance grows stronger with a MAJOR deal, to boost its air force by…, should New Delhi worry?

To counter Pakistan's acquisition of Chinese stealth fighter jets, India needs a fighter jet of similar capabilities. The United States has offered its F-35A, and Russia is willing to provide the Su-57 stealth fighter.

India currently lacks a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, while Pakistan is gearing up to acquire China’s J-35A fighter jets for its air force. According to reports in Pakistani media, these advanced jets could be delivered to Pakistan within the next two years, potentially altering the power dynamics in Asia. The J-35A is designed for aircraft carrier operations, although Pakistan lacks such carriers. Nevertheless, its deployment on land could still pose a significant threat.

The J-35A is equipped with advanced avionics and has stealth capabilities that make it less detectable by radar. It can carry a range of modern weapons, enabling it to execute high-precision strikes. Reports also suggest that Pakistani fighter pilots are undergoing training in China to operate these advanced jets.

With the induction of the J-35A, Pakistan’s air force is expected to gain a significant edge in air superiority. Currently, Pakistan operates fourth-generation Chinese JF-17 Thunder and American F-16 Falcon jets, while India has 4.5-generation advanced Rafale jets in its fleet. India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter project, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is still under development and may take at least a decade to materialize. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-35A within two years could provide it with a critical advantage.

What are India’s options?

To counter Pakistan’s acquisition of Chinese stealth fighter jets, India needs a fighter jet of similar capabilities. The United States has offered its F-35A, and Russia is willing to provide the Su-57 stealth fighter. However, the Indian government is not currently focusing on these options. Instead, India is prioritizing the development of its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project to meet future requirements.

While discussions regarding the acquisition of F-35A and Su-57 are ongoing, India’s priority remains to advance the development of its indigenous fighter jet, ensuring long-term strategic autonomy in defense.

About China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter Jet

US’ F–35A combat aircraft

The F-35A is an advanced, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin, primarily designed for air superiority and strike missions. It also excels in a range of other tasks such as electronic warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The F-35 family consists of three variants to meet diverse operational needs:

• F-35A: Built for conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL).
• F-35B: Capable of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL).
• F-35C: Optimized for carrier-based operations.

The F-35A is a single-pilot aircraft, measuring 51.4 feet in length, with a 35-foot wingspan and a height of 14.4 feet. It can reach a maximum speed of 1,976 km/h and has a combat range of 1,239 km. The aircraft can ascend to altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. It is armed with a four-barrel 25 mm rotary cannon that fires at a rate of 180 rounds per minute. Additionally, it has four internal and six external hardpoints, capable of carrying a variety of munitions such as air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs.

Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet