SOURCE: AFI
The prospect of India acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II from the United States and Pakistan securing the Shenyang J-35A from China has sparked intense speculation about how these advanced stealth fighters might reshape air combat dynamics in South Asia. As fifth-generation platforms, both jets bring cutting-edge stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities to the table. Should both nations integrate these aircraft into their arsenals, a combat scenario between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would hinge on technology, strategy, and the broader geopolitical context. Here’s how such a clash might unfold.
The F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing variant India might pursue, is a proven multirole stealth fighter. With its AN/APG-81 AESA radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and advanced electronic warfare suite, it excels in situational awareness and beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements. Its stealth design reduces its radar cross-section (RCS), and its internal weapons bay can carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs or precision-guided munitions, maintaining its low-observable profile. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine (43,000 lbf with afterburner), the F-35A boasts a combat radius of over 1,200 km and a top speed of Mach 1.6.
In contrast, the J-35A, China’s latest fifth-generation offering unveiled at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, is a twin-engine stealth fighter designed for air superiority and strike missions. While less battle-tested than the F-35, it features a low RCS, advanced avionics, and WS-19 engines (estimated 19,600–21,000 lbf each with afterburner), pushing it to speeds around Mach 1.8. Its internal bay likely houses PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles (range exceeding 150 km) and PL-10 short-range missiles, with a payload capacity of up to 8,000 kg across internal and external hardpoints. Though specifics remain guarded, its smaller size compared to the J-20 suggests agility and cost-effectiveness—key factors for Pakistan’s resource-constrained forces.
India’s interest in the F-35 stems from a need to counter China’s growing fleet of J-20s (over 200 operational) and Pakistan’s potential J-35A acquisition. With the IAF’s squadron strength at 31 against a sanctioned 42, and the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) not expected until the mid-2030s, the F-35 offers an immediate technological edge. However, India’s S-400 purchase from Russia complicates U.S. approval due to CAATSA restrictions, though diplomatic waivers or segregation of systems could pave the way.
Pakistan, facing economic challenges yet bolstered by its “all-weather” alliance with China, sees the J-35A as a leap beyond its F-16s and JF-17s. Reports suggest a deal for 40 jets, with deliveries possibly within two years, financed potentially through Chinese loans. This move would give the PAF a first-mover advantage in stealth, pressuring India to respond swiftly.
Imagine a flare-up along the Line of Control (LoC) in 2028, with both nations deploying their new stealth fighters. The IAF launches a squadron of F-35As from Srinagar, tasked with neutralizing PAF assets threatening Indian ground forces. Simultaneously, the PAF deploys J-35As from Skardu, aiming to establish air superiority and support a counteroffensive.
Phase 1: Detection and Positioning
The F-35’s stealth and DAS give it an edge in early detection. Orbiting AWACS like India’s Netra or Phalcon systems, paired with ground-based radars, relay data to the F-35s, allowing them to track the J-35As despite their low RCS. The J-35As, supported by Chinese KJ-500 AWACS or Pakistan’s ZDK-03, rely on their AESA radar and data-link with ground stations to detect the F-35s. However, the F-35’s superior electronic warfare capabilities—jamming enemy sensors—might delay PAF detection, giving India a first-mover advantage.
Phase 2: Beyond-Visual-Range Engagement
Both jets excel in BVR combat, but the F-35’s AIM-120D (range ~180 km) and sensor fusion could outmatch the J-35A’s PL-15. The IAF pilots, leveraging networked data from satellites and ground assets, launch a salvo of missiles while remaining outside the J-35A’s engagement envelope. The PAF counters with PL-15s, but their effectiveness depends on the J-35A’s radar and China’s less-proven missile guidance tech. The F-35’s stealth and countermeasures (e.g., towed decoys) likely neutralize many incoming threats, while the J-35A’s twin-engine design might offer better survivability against a hit.
Phase 3: Within-Visual-Range Dogfight
If the fight closes to within-visual-range (WVR), the J-35A’s agility and thrust-vectoring potential (if equipped) could challenge the F-35’s maneuverability, which prioritizes stealth over aerobatics. The F-35’s helmet-mounted display and AIM-9X Sidewinder provide off-boresight targeting, but the J-35A’s PL-10, with similar capabilities, levels the playing field. Pilot training becomes decisive—India’s experienced IAF cadre, hardened by exercises like Red Flag, might outmatch the PAF, which relies heavily on Chinese training protocols of uncertain depth.
Phase 4: Outcome and Attrition
The F-35’s integration with India’s broader air defense network—S-400s, Rafales, and Su-30MKIs—could tilt the scales. The IAF’s numerical superiority (potentially two F-35 squadrons vs. PAF’s one J-35A squadron) and layered defenses overwhelm the PAF, forcing the J-35As to retreat or face high losses. Pakistan’s limited fleet and maintenance challenges—exacerbated by economic constraints—hamper sustained operations, while India’s deeper resources and U.S. logistical support sustain the F-35s.
In this scenario, the F-35’s proven technology and interoperability give India an edge, though the J-35A’s lower cost and China’s backing make it a credible threat. Terrain favors neither side outright—Kashmir’s mountains limit low-altitude stealth advantages—but India’s larger air force and infrastructure provide a cumulative advantage. Pakistan could offset this with swarm tactics or integration with Chinese drones, but sustaining 40 J-35As against India’s multi-platform response would strain its capabilities.
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