SOURCE: AFI
Raza Khan, host of Pakistan’s 24 News HD, has once again stirred the pot with a sensational report asserting that Pakistan’s anticipated acquisition of the Chinese J-35A stealth fighter jet is sending ripples of concern through the Indian Air Force (IAF). In his latest broadcast, Khan cited a report allegedly sourced from a Reddit Indian defense community thread, claiming that the J-35A could effortlessly overpower India’s mainstay fighter jets—the MiG-29 and Su-30MKI.
According to Khan, the Reddit post—which he presented as a credible reflection of Indian defense concerns—suggested that the J-35A’s advanced stealth capabilities would allow it to outmatch the IAF’s MiG-29 and Su-30MKI in combat with little resistance. The MiG-29, a Soviet-era air superiority fighter inducted into the IAF in the 1980s, and the Su-30MKI, a heavily customized Russian multirole jet forming the backbone of India’s air fleet, were portrayed as no match for the cutting-edge Chinese stealth platform. Khan emphasized that the J-35A’s low radar cross-section and modern avionics would give it a decisive edge, potentially shifting the balance of power in Pakistan’s favor.
Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising claim in Khan’s report was his assertion that India’s S-400 Triumph air defense system—acquired from Russia and touted as one of the world’s most advanced anti-aircraft systems—would be powerless to detect or engage the J-35A. The S-400, equipped with long-range radars capable of tracking stealth aircraft under optimal conditions, has been a cornerstone of India’s defense strategy against aerial threats from both Pakistan and China. Khan, however, argued that the J-35A’s stealth design would render it invisible to these radars, allowing Pakistan to penetrate Indian airspace unchallenged.
The 24 News HD segment has drawn attention not only for its bold predictions but also for its reliance on a Reddit thread as a primary source. While social media platforms like Reddit host vibrant defense communities where enthusiasts and analysts debate military capabilities, such posts often lack the rigor of official assessments or peer-reviewed studies. The specific claim that the J-35A would “take down” MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs “without much effort” appears more speculative than substantiated, given the absence of real-world combat data involving the J-35A, which has only recently been unveiled by China and is yet to enter full operational service with Pakistan.
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