SOURCE: AFI
Pakistani Defence YouTube channels are abuzz with reports that Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmad Babar, Chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), recently met with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in Beijing, where he was assured that Pakistan could acquire China’s elusive sixth-generation fighter jets by 2030.
This revelation, if accurate, marks a bold leap in Sino-Pakistani military cooperation, even as Babar’s visit reportedly also aimed to finalize a deal for 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighters. The claims, echoed by Pakistani media outlets, spotlight China’s rapid aerospace advancements—and raise questions about the feasibility of production timelines and Pakistan’s strategic ambitions.
According to these reports, Dong Jun informed Babar that China is keen to equip the PAF with its next-generation fighter jet, a platform still shrouded in secrecy but purportedly in development following sightings earlier this year. Pakistani sources claim that two sixth-generation prototypes—one a fighter jet, the other a fighter-bomber—completed their first flights in 2025, a milestone that aligns with China’s aggressive push to outpace global rivals like the United States and Europe in next-gen aviation. The prospect of delivering these jets to Pakistan by 2030, however, has left analysts skeptical, given the complexity of productionizing such advanced technology in under five years.
The PAF’s pursuit of cutting-edge airpower isn’t new. Earlier this year, Pakistani media reported that Babar had laid the groundwork for acquiring the Shenyang J-35A, a fifth-generation stealth fighter showcased at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow. Pakistani Defence YouTube channels now assert that Babar’s Beijing trip, which occurred this week, included formalizing a $1.5-2 billion deal for 40 J-35As, with deliveries expected within two years. The J-35A, a twin-engine, multirole jet designed for both air superiority and ground attack, remains in pre-mass-production stages, with China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) still integrating it into its own fleet. If confirmed, this deal would make Pakistan the first export customer for the J-35A, bolstering its capabilities against regional rivals, notably India.
China’s sixth-generation ambitions are less defined but tantalizing. Unlike fifth-generation jets like the J-20 and J-35A, which emphasize stealth and sensor fusion, sixth-generation platforms are expected to feature artificial intelligence-driven autonomy, directed-energy weapons, and hypersonic speeds—technologies still in experimental phases globally. Sightings of two prototypes in 2025, as reported by Pakistani outlets, suggest China may be testing airframes with advanced aerodynamics and propulsion, possibly leveraging the WS-19 engine or a derivative. Yet, transitioning from flight tests to operational production by 2030—a mere five-year window—seems ambitious, even for China’s state-backed aviation juggernaut, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.
Pakistani YouTubers speculate that Beijing’s promise reflects a strategic intent to cement Islamabad as a key ally in South Asia, countering India’s growing military prowess. The PAF, currently operating a mix of JF-17 Thunders, J-10Cs, and ageing F-16s, sees the J-35A as a near-term boost and the sixth-generation jet as a long-term game-changer. “By 2030, we could have a fleet that outclasses the Indian Air Force’s Rafales and Su-30s,” one channel claimed, though such bravado overlooks India’s own fifth-generation AMCA program, slated for induction in the mid-2030s.
The feasibility of China’s timeline raises eyebrows. Mass-producing the J-35A, which is still scaling up for PLAAF use, will demand significant resources—let alone a sixth-generation jet requiring untested technologies. Posts on X note that China’s aviation industry, while prolific (with over 200 J-20s deployed), often prioritizes domestic needs before exports. Pakistan’s economic woes—reliant on IMF bailouts and Chinese loans—further complicate funding such deals, with analysts suggesting Beijing might subsidize the purchases to secure geopolitical leverage.
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