Has China given the first sign it’s ready to export its J-35A fighter jet to Pakistan?

China’s state broadcaster has given a glimpse of the first export variant of the J-35A – the country’s second land-based fifth-generation fighter jet – with Pakistan the most likely recipient, according to reports and analysis.The CCTV clip featured during the “2026 May 1st International Labour Day ‘Heart to Heart’ Special Programme” shows a J-35A model bearing the serial number 001 rolling out of the hangar with the logo of China’s largest military aircraft manufacturer, China" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="24789" data-entity-type="organization">Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).In the programme aired on Friday night, the aircraft had the AVIC acronym, rather than the People’s Liberation Army Air Force logo, a sign it is an export variant.China has shown small models of the J-35A at international defence exhibitions, but it was the first time the export variant of the aircraft, dubbed the J-35AE, has been unveiled as a full operational model.