Shenyang J-35

Template:Infobox aircraft

The Shenyang J-35 (Chinese: 歼-35; pinyin: jiān-sānwǔ चिअन् सान्वु ) is a type of Chinese multirole combat aircraft featuring a single seat and twin engines, capable of all-weather operations. It is produced by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) and is intended for both air superiority and surface strike roles. Reports indicate that there are two versions of this aircraft: one designed for land operations to serve the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and another variant tailored for carrier operations, optimized for catapult-assisted takeoff (CATOBAR), intended for the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF).

The Shenyang J-35 was developed from the FC-31 Gyrfalcon, which is a prototype stealth aircraft that served as a demonstrator to attract potential export clients after the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) lost the bid for the J-XX to the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.

Interest in the FC-31 project grew within the People's Liberation Army, particularly among the PLA Navy, prompting further development of the prototype. Enhancements included the addition of a catapult launch bar and folding wings, with this updated version making its maiden flight on 29 October 2021. In 2023, a land-based variant was introduced and officially showcased ahead of the 2024 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, receiving the designation J-35A. Until the official naming, some media outlets and analysts referred to it as the J-31.

With the arrival of the J-35, it becomes the second fifth-generation fighter in China's arsenal, following the Chengdu J-20, making China one of the few countries, alongside the United States, to operate two different types of stealth fighters.

Specifications (FC-31 V2 Prototype)

The specifications denote the FC-31 prototype in development, they are approximate, preliminary, and may not be representative of the Shenyang J-35 variants.

Data from Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Aviation Week, Flight Global unless otherwise attributed

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
• Height: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
• Gross weight: 17,500 kg (38,581 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 28,000 kg (61,729 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 7,200 kg (15,900 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Guizhou WS-13E (FC-31) or Guizhou WS-21 (J-35) afterburning turbofans , 87.2–93.2 kN (19,600–21,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
  • Mach 1.14, 1,400 kilometres per hour (870 mph; 756 kn) at sea level
• Combat range: 1,250 km (780 mi, 670 nmi) (radius) on internal fuel
  • 1,900 kilometres (1,200 mi) (radius) with air refueling
  • 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) (radius) with external fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)
• g limits: +9/-3

Armament

• Hardpoints: 6 × internal hardpoints inside weapons bay, 6 × external hardpoints on wings with a capacity of 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) internal, 6,000 kilograms (13,000 lb) external, and up to 8,000 kilograms (18,000 lb) total weapons payload, with provisions to carry combinations of:
• Missiles:
  
  • Air-to-air missiles:
    • PL-15 long range active radar homing
    • PL-10 short-range infrared homing / active radar homing
  • Air-to-ground missiles:
    • 8 × supersonic land attack missiles
    • 8 × supersonic anti-radiation missiles
    • 8 × supersonic anti-ship missiles
• Bombs:
  
  • 8 × 500 kg deep-penetration bombs
  • 30 × smaller bombs

Avionics

• KLJ-7A AESA radar
• Distributed aperture system (DAS) optical early-warning system
• Electro-optical targeting system (EOTS)