SHANGHAI (AFP) – China will unveil a new stealth fighter jet and attack drones at a major airshow this week in the southern city of Zhuhai.
Beijing has poured resources into modernising and expanding its aviation capabilities.
The J-35A, described as a “medium-sized stealth multi-purpose fighter”, looks similar in design to a US F-35, analysts said, though details are few.
Its appearance at the show “can be interpreted as confirmation of its entry into service”, Chinese military aviation expert Fu Qianshao told state-backed tabloid Global Times last week. If confirmed, it would make China the only other known country in the world to have two stealth fighters in action after the US, Fu said.
Another key piece of military hardware making its debut is the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles, according to state media. The SS-UAV – a massive mothership that can rapidly release swarms of smaller drones for intelligence gathering, as well as strikes – will be on display in Zhuhai, according to the South China Morning Post.
