{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1727631,
        "msgid": "this-us-ally-is-instead-stocking-up-on-chinas-stealth-fighter-jets-1778291527",
        "date": "2026-05-09 07:44:26",
        "title": "This US Ally Is Instead Stocking Up on China's Stealth Fighter Jets",
        "author": "Erdy Nasrul",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Pakistan is poised to become the first foreign buyer of China's fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-35AE, potentially shifting the military balance in South Asia and underscoring Islamabad's growing alignment with Beijing over Western defence orbits. Reports indicate Pakistan may acquire around 40 units as part of broader military cooperation, highlighting its deepening reliance on Chinese weaponry amid strained US ties post-Afghanistan. This development comes against the backdrop of recent India-Pakistan tensions, where limitations of fourth-generation jets were evident, emphasising the strategic need for advanced stealth capabilities.",
        "content": "<p>REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA \u2014 Pakistan is reportedly preparing to become\nthe first foreign buyer of China\u2019s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet,\nthe J-35AE, a move that could alter the military balance in South Asia\nwhile reinforcing Islamabad\u2019s geopolitical shift away from Western\ndefence spheres.<\/p>\n<p>Reports from Xinhua and the South China Morning Post a few days ago\nindicated that Chinese state television aired footage of the export\nvariant of the fighter aircraft, identified as the J-35AE. The footage\nshowed the aircraft emerging from a hangar bearing the logo of the\nAviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), not the People\u2019s\nLiberation Army Air Force, suggesting it is indeed prepared for the\ninternational market.<\/p>\n<p>The public unveiling of the J-35AE is viewed as a signal that Beijing\nhas entered the full operational phase for exporting fifth-generation\nstealth fighter jets, a segment long dominated by the United States\nthrough the F-35.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan is considered the strongest candidate for the inaugural\npurchase. Several defence reports suggest Islamabad may acquire around\n40 units as part of a broader military cooperation package with\nBeijing.<\/p>\n<p>The aircraft is equipped with an internal electro-optical targeting\nsystem (EOTS), stealth design, and modern networked warfare capabilities\ndesigned for penetrating enemy air defences and conducting long-range\nstrikes.<\/p>\n<p>Islamabad\u2019s move to purchase the J-35AE also illustrates Pakistan\u2019s\ndeepening military dependence on China. In recent years, the majority of\nPakistan\u2019s arms imports have come from Beijing, ranging from JF-17 and\nJ-10C fighter jets to air defence systems and warships.<\/p>\n<p>This development also represents a geopolitical irony. Despite its\nstatus as a \u201cmajor non-NATO ally\u201d of the United States, Pakistan is\nincreasingly relying on strategic Chinese military technology amid\ndeteriorating trust between Islamabad and Washington following the\nAfghanistan war.<\/p>\n<p>The latest tensions between Pakistan and India in May 2025 further\nhighlighted the limitations of fourth-generation fighter jets in facing\nmodern air defence systems.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan\u2019s J-10C jets drew attention after claims emerged that they\nsuccessfully shot down an Indian Rafale aircraft. However, several\nanalysts assess that both countries faced operational constraints due to\nrobust air defences and the growing complexity of modern air\nwarfare.<\/p>\n<p>Security analyst Christopher Clary noted that India\u2019s S-400 air\ndefence system reportedly succeeded in intercepting at least one\nPakistani aircraft. India also reportedly exercised greater caution by\nlaunching air-to-ground strikes from its own territory to avoid direct\npenetration of Pakistani airspace.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/this-us-ally-is-instead-stocking-up-on-chinas-stealth-fighter-jets-1778291527",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}