China’s rapid expansion of its fifth-generation stealth fighter fleet is reshaping the balance of air power in Asia. With the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35 programmes advancing at an accelerated pace, Beijing is fielding advanced low-observable aircraft in numbers that only the United States previously matched. For India, which shares a long and contested border with China and faces the additional challenge of a possible two-front scenario involving Pakistan, this development has sharpened the focus on modernising its own air and missile defences. New Delhi is responding with a combination of accelerated indigenous programmes, major foreign acquisitions, and strengthened layered air-defence networks.
China’s Dual Stealth Fighter Push
China has become the only country besides the United States to serially produce two distinct fifth-generation fighters at the same time. The heavy J-20 Mighty Dragon remains the centrepiece of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Open-source estimates place the operational fleet at well over 350 aircraft by mid-2026, with annual production running between 100 and 120 jets. Analysts tracking satellite imagery of Chengdu’s factories suggest the rate could climb further, potentially reaching 400 aircraft a year by 2027. Newer batches incorporate the indigenous WS-15 engine, which improves supercruise performance and overall reliability. Variants such as the two-seat J-20S are also expanding the aircraft’s multi-role capabilities, including precision strikes against ground and maritime targets.
The lighter J-35 family has progressed even more quickly than many expected. By mid-2026, production at Shenyang had already surpassed 30 airframes, with serial numbers confirming sustained output. Both land-based J-35A and carrier-capable J-35 versions are in service. The naval variant has conducted operations from the electromagnetic catapult-equipped carrier Fujian as well as the older ski-jump carriers Liaoning and Shandong. Chinese sources claim the aircraft’s radar cross-section is exceptionally low—comparable to a small bird—thanks to careful shaping and the use of advanced materials. The J-35 carries modern AESA radars, long-range PL-15 and PL-17 air-to-air missiles, and can operate in a “beast mode” configuration with external stores when stealth is less critical.
Export interest is also rising. An export-oriented J-35AE has been displayed, and reports indicate Pakistan is exploring the acquisition of up to 40 aircraft. If realised, this would introduce a fifth-generation platform into the Pakistan Air Force inventory, further complicating India’s regional air picture.
Together, these programmes give China a quantitative and qualitative edge in stealth aviation that is difficult to ignore. The combination of growing numbers, improving engines, and expanding carrier capability enhances Beijing’s ability to contest airspace along the Himalayan frontier and project power into the Indian Ocean region.
India’s Multi-Layered Response
India’s response rests on three pillars: expanding and modernising its fighter fleet, building a denser air-defence network, and accelerating indigenous development under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
On the fighter front, the Indian Air Force continues to grapple with a squadron shortfall. The sanctioned strength stands at 42 squadrons, yet the actual number remains closer to 29–30. To bridge the gap in the near term, India has moved decisively on additional Rafale aircraft. A large government-to-government deal for 114 more Rafales—valued at approximately $39 billion—includes substantial local manufacturing and technology transfer. Once delivered, these aircraft will significantly boost India’s beyond-visual-range combat and precision-strike capabilities through the Meteor missile and SPECTRA electronic-warfare suite. Parallel upgrades to the existing Su-30MKI fleet, including the Super Sukhoi programme with advanced AESA radars, are also under way.
Indigenous programmes form the longer-term foundation. The Tejas Mk1A is gradually entering service, while the more capable Tejas Mk2—powered by the GE F414 engine, equipped with an indigenous Uttam AESA radar, and featuring canards—is intended to replace older Jaguar, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 fleets. First flight of the Mk2 has been delayed but remains expected in the near term, with squadron induction targeted for the early 2030s.
The most ambitious project is the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter. Designed as a twin-engine medium-weight platform with internal weapons bays, sensor fusion and low observability, the AMCA has entered the prototype phase. The Defence Ministry has issued requests for proposals to private-sector consortia, including Tata Advanced Systems, L&T-BEL and Bharat Forge-BEML, marking a deliberate shift away from sole reliance on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The first prototypes are expected in the late 2020s, with initial operational capability projected for the mid-2030s. Early batches will use GE F414 engines, while later Mk2 versions aim for a more powerful indigenous engine in the 110 kN class.
Air defence has received equal attention. Additional S-400 squadrons have been approved as part of an expanded “Sudarshan Chakra” network that will eventually comprise ten units. These systems, already proven in operational conditions, form the backbone of long-range coverage over key sectors, including the approaches to Delhi and sensitive border regions. Complementary indigenous systems such as Akash and the medium-range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM) are being fielded in greater numbers, while very-short-range systems and anti-drone capabilities are being strengthened to counter low-level and unmanned threats.
Missile inventories are also growing. Orders for precision-guided munitions such as the HAMMER for both Rafale and Tejas aircraft, continued production of BrahMos (including the lighter BrahMos-NG variant), and indigenous systems like Astra and Pralay improve stand-off strike options. These weapons allow Indian forces to hold targets at risk without necessarily penetrating heavily defended airspace.
Beyond platforms, structural reforms are under way. Progress toward integrated theatre commands—Northern for the China front, Western for Pakistan, and a Maritime command—aims to improve jointness and responsiveness. Infrastructure development along the Line of Actual Control continues, with new advanced landing grounds, all-weather roads and improved surveillance networks enhancing mobility and situational awareness. Investments in space-based reconnaissance, airborne early-warning aircraft and unmanned systems further close the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance gap.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite these efforts, significant hurdles remain. Engine technology continues to be a bottleneck; dependence on foreign powerplants for both Tejas and early AMCA variants highlights the need for sustained investment in indigenous aero-engine programmes. Production rates for Indian fighters still lag behind Chinese output, and the AMCA timeline leaves a window of vulnerability in the late 2020s and early 2030s. Numerical disparities in overall combat aircraft and the rapid modernisation of Chinese forces mean India must prioritise quality, networking and asymmetric capabilities rather than attempting to match numbers alone.
Budgetary support has improved, with rising capital allocations for aircraft, engines and missiles. Private-sector participation is expanding, and indigenous production value has crossed major thresholds. Yet execution speed will determine whether these investments translate into timely operational capability.
China’s simultaneous production of the J-20 and J-35 marks a new phase in Asian air power competition. India cannot ignore the scale or sophistication of this build-up. Through a pragmatic mix of immediate acquisitions such as additional Rafales and S-400 systems, steady progress on Tejas variants, and the longer-term pursuit of the AMCA, New Delhi is working to preserve a credible deterrent. Layered air defences, improved infrastructure and joint command structures complement the platform-focused efforts.
The coming decade will test India’s ability to convert plans into deployed capability. Success will depend less on matching China’s production numbers and more on fielding a balanced, networked and resilient force that can deter aggression and, if necessary, contest the skies over the Himalayas and the Indian Ocean. In an era of rapid technological change, preparedness remains the most reliable form of strategic stability.
About The Author
