SOURCE: AFI
Retired Pakistani Brigadier Masood Ahmed Khan has sparked a wave of mockery and skepticism after claiming that Pakistan will become the “fourth country” in the world to operate fifth-generation fighter jets once it acquires the Chinese J-35A. In a recent statement, Khan boasted that the J-35A’s arrival would not only cement Pakistan’s status among global military powers but also render it superior in the region, forcing the Indian Air Force (IAF) to “sit out” of any potential conflict over Kashmir. However, his assertions have been widely debunked and ridiculed, given the extensive list of countries already operating the American F-35 Lightning II, a proven fifth-generation stealth fighter.
Khan’s claim that Pakistan would join the United States, Russia, and China as the fourth nation with fifth-generation jets conveniently overlooks the reality of the F-35’s global proliferation. The Lockheed Martin F-35 is currently in service with over a dozen countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Israel, and Singapore, alongside the U.S. itself. This list, comprising NATO allies and key Indo-Pacific partners, far exceeds Khan’s tally of three, exposing his statement as either a gross miscalculation or deliberate exaggeration.
Khan’s confidence hinges on the anticipated delivery of the J-35A, a twin-engine stealth fighter developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, derived from the FC-31 prototype. Reports suggest Pakistan has approved the acquisition of 40 J-35A jets, with deliveries expected within two years, marking China’s first export of a fifth-generation fighter. Khan argued that this platform’s advanced stealth and avionics would outmatch regional rivals, particularly the IAF, and deter India from engaging in aerial conflict over Kashmir—a perennial flashpoint between the two nations.
“The J-35A will be superior in the region and will force the Indian Air Force to sit out of any possible conflict on Kashmir,” Khan proclaimed. Yet, this bold assertion has been met with derision, as analysts and commentators point out the untested nature of the J-35A compared to established platforms like the F-35 and India’s own upgrades to its fleet, such as the forthcoming “Super Sukhoi” Su-30MKI with the Virupaksha AESA radar and Astra MkIII missile.
The brigadier’s claim of Pakistan becoming the “fourth country” with fifth-generation jets has drawn particular scorn online and among defense circles. Social media users and analysts quickly pointed out the absurdity of the statement, noting that the F-35’s operators already number at least 14, with more potentially joining as the U.S. expands its export approvals. “Does Brigadier Khan think the world begins and ends with the U.S., Russia, and China?” quipped one X user, while another remarked, “Pakistan might be fourth in his imagination, but in reality, they’re late to a very crowded party.”
Even within Pakistan, some voices have questioned the feasibility of Khan’s boasts. The J-35A, while promising on paper with stealth features and a reported range of 1,200 km (extendable to 1,900 km with refueling), lacks the operational track record of the F-35 or Russia’s Su-57. Critics argue that its effectiveness will depend heavily on China’s willingness to share cutting-edge technology—something Beijing has historically limited in export variants, as seen with the J-10CE’s downgraded AESA radar and PL-15E missile (capped at 145 km range versus the PL-15’s 200 km-plus).
Khan’s assertion that the J-35A would neutralize the IAF overlooks India’s ongoing modernization efforts. The IAF operates 36 Rafale jets (4.5-generation) and is upgrading its Su-30MKI fleet with the GaN-based Virupaksha radar and the Astra MkIII, a BVR missile with a 300-350 km range. Additionally, India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter, is in development, with prototypes expected by 2035. While Pakistan might gain a temporary edge with the J-35A, India’s layered capabilities—bolstered by the S-400 air defense system—suggest the IAF is far from “sitting out” any conflict.
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