China has officially disclosed that the radar cross section (RCS) of its new-generation J-35 stealth fighter is smaller than the size of a human palm — a revelation that underscores Beijing’s accelerating progress in stealth technology and its ambition to rival the world’s most advanced fifth-generation aircraft.
The announcement, first reported by state-run Global Times following a detailed China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast on Sunday, highlights Beijing’s growing confidence in the J-35 program. According to the report, the aircraft’s ultra-low RCS is achieved through highly refined fuselage shaping combined with domestically developed metamaterial-based radar-absorbent coatings.
The disclosure — one of the most explicit public acknowledgments of Chinese stealth capability to date — places the J-35 in the same league as the U.S. F-35 and F-22 in terms of low observability. Defence analysts say the timing and specificity of the announcement are not accidental, but rather a deliberate strategic signal aimed at adversaries and the international defence community.
Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told Global Times that an RCS “equivalent to a human palm,” roughly comparable to that of a small bird, must be considered “very small” for a fighter of this size. “Such a value indicates the J-35’s stealth capability is at a world-class level,” Wang said. He added that the reduced radar signature could allow the aircraft to penetrate modern air defence systems undetected until it is already within lethal range.
The implications for airpower balance in the Indo-Pacific are significant. Countries such as the United States, Japan, and India rely heavily on advanced radar networks and layered intercept systems — including Patriot PAC-3, Aegis, and S-400 batteries — to counter hostile aircraft.
If the J-35 can indeed remain undetected until it closes to missile range, it would grant China a major first-strike advantage in any potential conflict scenario over the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, or the South China Sea.
The announcement also puts additional pressure on the airborne early-warning and tanker fleets of regional militaries. These high-value platforms depend on detecting threats at long distances; a new generation of low-observable Chinese aircraft could undermine that advantage and compress reaction times dramatically.
Chinese authorities have historically avoided providing specific stealth-related metrics, treating RCS data as a state secret. The new disclosure suggests a shift in Beijing’s strategic calculus: China now appears confident enough in the J-35’s operational maturity to advertise it as a deterrent rather than conceal its capabilities.
It also reflects mounting Chinese belief that the aircraft is close to mass deployment — and that publicising its performance could influence regional military planning.
If the metamaterial stealth coating highlighted by CCTV proves durable in maritime, tropical, and carrier-based environments, it could also reduce long-term maintenance requirements. This would challenge a long-standing U.S. advantage in stealth sustainment, a costly but critical element of fifth-generation combat readiness.
The revelation of the J-35’s RCS comes days after another major milestone: China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian (Type 003), completed its first catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing trials.
The September 22 tests involved three aircraft — the J-15T, the KJ-600 airborne early-warning plane, and, most significantly, the J-35 stealth fighter. This pairing is strategically momentous: it marks the first time China has combined a true fifth-generation carrier aircraft with an electromagnetic catapult system comparable to that used by U.S. Navy supercarriers.
By linking the J-35’s stealth breakthrough with the Fujian’s progress, Chinese state media has sent a clear message: the country is now positioning its naval aviation capabilities to match, and eventually challenge, those of the United States.
CCTV’s report also offered rare insight into the J-35’s broader performance profile. The aircraft reportedly has a maximum takeoff weight nearing 30 tons, placing it in the lower spectrum of the heavy fighter class despite being officially designated “medium-sized.” Its twin medium-thrust engines — claimed to be fully domestic and independently developed — represent a crucial step in China’s long effort to end its dependence on Russian propulsion.
For decades, China relied heavily on Russian engines such as the AL-31 and RD-93 for frontline fighters. Indigenous programs like the WS-10 and WS-15 endured years of delays before achieving operational maturity. The J-35’s domestic engines, if reliable, mark a decisive shift toward strategic autonomy in aircraft manufacturing.
With electromagnetic catapult assistance, the heavier J-35 can launch fully loaded with weapons and fuel — a major advantage over ski-jump aircraft such as the J-15, enabling extended-range missions, heavier strike loads, and longer time on station.
These characteristics position the aircraft as a true multirole stealth platform capable of deep strike, air superiority, and maritime interdiction operations across both the First and Second Island Chains.
The J-35 series extends beyond naval operations. The carrier-based jet is derived from the J-35A, first unveiled at Airshow China 2024 and designed for the PLA Air Force. China is adopting a modular approach similar to the U.S. F-35 program, which produced three service-specific variants under a unified design.
Wang Yongqing, chief designer at the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute, recently noted that shared avionics, sensors, and onboard systems across variants dramatically reduce development time and production costs. This strategy allows both the PLA Air Force and Navy to field large, interoperable stealth fighter fleets while simplifying logistics and maintenance — an essential advantage for a military operating across vast geography.
The announcement has already sparked concern in defence circles worldwide.
Taiwan, whose air defence network is under extreme strain, may face new challenges in detecting stealth incursions at long range.
Japan, which fields one of the largest F-35 fleets outside the United States, must now contend with a Chinese aircraft capable of countering its fifth-generation assets.
India is likely to view the development with alarm, as it races to field its own AMCA stealth fighter and expands its Rafale fleet.
The United States faces renewed urgency in deploying its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter to maintain air superiority into the 2030s.
Perhaps the most profound impact will be on naval strategy. With the J-35 joining the Fujian’s air wing, China will field its first carrier-based stealth strike capability — a development that narrows a gap long dominated by U.S. Navy F-35C-equipped carriers.
This transformation could reshape tactical planning across the Indo-Pacific. A Chinese carrier strike group deploying stealth aircraft would be able to contest large areas of ocean far from China’s coastline, presenting a more complex threat to U.S. and allied forces.
The J-35’s palm-sized radar signature may appear trivial, but its strategic implications are enormous. Combined with long-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-15 and the upcoming PL-21, the aircraft could engage targets at distances where opposing fighters have not yet detected its presence.
If fielded in large numbers — as China’s industrial capacity suggests — the J-35 could overwhelm regional air defence networks through stealth saturation tactics. Its emergence also positions China to compete in global fighter export markets, offering a lower-cost alternative to the U.S. F-35 for nations aligned more closely with Beijing.
For Southeast Asian militaries and smaller states, the rise of the J-35 may prompt accelerated investment in counter-stealth technologies, including quantum radar, passive detection networks, and low-frequency sensors.
The J-35 represents more than a new fighter jet — it embodies China’s ambition to challenge Western aerospace dominance, reshape the Indo-Pacific balance of power, and signal that it intends to compete head-to-head with the United States in the next generation of air combat.
