China’s latest stealth aircraft debuted at the country’s biggest air show on Tuesday, taking part in a five-minute aerial display in front of a crowd of military leaders, international buyers and overseas representatives.
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The performance on the first day of the Zhuhai air show – also known as the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition – showcased the J-35A’s manoeuvrability, with the multi-role fighter making a series of steep dives and climbs.
China’s flagship stealth fighter, the J-20, was also part of the aerial display, while on the ground, a half-size model of the two-seater variant of the aircraft, the J-20S, was on show, alongside full-size models of the short-range PL-10E combat missile and the PL-15E active-radar-guided air-to-air missile.
The J-15T, a variant of China’s first aircraft carrier-based fighter, the J-15, is also making its public debut, with the People’s Liberation Army Navy showcasing fully operational equipment at the exhibition for the first time.
The variant of the “Flying Shark” fighter is designed to be launched with a catapult, and is believed to have been deployed on the country’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian.
The air show is held every two years to display China’s progress in military and civilian aviation technology as well as other cutting-edge weapons.
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This year’s event is the first since China removed its Covid-19 restrictions in 2023, and has attracted more than 1,000 firms from 47 countries and regions. In 2022, 740 companies from 43 countries and regions took part.