China will unveil a new stealth fighter jet and attack drones at a major airshow this week, with analysts and rival powers watching closely for rare clues on Beijing’s military hardware development.
The country’s close ties with Moscow will also be on display at Airshow China, which showcases Beijing’s civil and military aerospace sector every two years in the southern city of Zhuhai.
Beijing has poured resources into modernising and expanding its aviation capabilities as it faces off against the United States and others around regional flashpoints like Taiwan.
Record numbers of Chinese warplanes have been sent around the self-ruled democratic island, which Beijing claims as its territory, over the past few years.
The J-35A, described as a “medium-sized stealth multi-purpose fighter”, looks similar in design to a US F-35, analysts say, 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 United States, 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.
While China has had to play catch-up with the United States when it comes to most traditional military technology, that might not be case with drones, where China dominates the commercial market.
