In the context of a static exhibition held during the past weekend, a scale model of the stealth fighter J-35 of the Chinese Navy and Air Force was displayed alongside a wide array of weaponry it would be capable of carrying, with the LD-8A anti-radiation missiles standing out among them. This represents an important development, as it implies that the new aircraft of the Asian Giant would have the tools to perform electronic warfare missions, being able to neutralize enemy radar systems thanks to this new capability.
In detail, the display took place during the Open Day of the Air Force and the Changchun Air Show, held in Jilin province, located in northeast China. The J-35 mock-up was located at a booth of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, and alongside it, a broad range of missiles available to the aircraft was observed. This list includes, in addition to the aforementioned LD-8A, the PL-10E, PL-15E, and PL-12AE air-to-air missiles.
Focusing particularly on the capabilities the LD-8A missiles grant to the new J-35s, it is important to remember that these systems are able to track enemy radiation signals, guiding the warhead to their source to destroy it. Having this at disposal is extremely useful for aircraft, especially in modern battlefields, since radars form part of ground-based air defense batteries that can be deployed to protect strategic targets. The particular design of the missile, according to local media reports, appears to be derived from the PL-15E model due to its similarities in aerodynamic shape and size.
It is important to highlight, however, that the fighters tasked with deploying them usually require powerful electronic warfare sensors to detect potential targets in the operational area. In the eyes of Chinese analysts, this would require the country to advance in the development of a specialized variant of the J-35 to fully exploit the missile’s capabilities, or alternatively, the missiles would be deployed by aircraft already prepared for such missions, escorted by the stealth fighter in future operations.
In the absence of an official confirmation, it is worth recalling that Beijing would have only just begun the initial production of these platforms in July 2025, when images from a state television report were published in which the J-35 production line could be seen. At that time, since the fighter appeared in the background, it was speculated that it might have been a mere television accident in which it was not intended to show such an aircraft.
As months went by, it could be confirmed that the country was indeed advancing firmly in the manufacturing of the modern fighters, to the point of allowing them to operate from the deck of the aircraft carrier Fujian, the most modern of the Chinese Navy. As we reported yesterday, official images were published showing with clarity the presence of these stealth aircraft operating alongside J-15T fighters and KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft, just a few days after the mentioned ship was seen departing from Shanghai to conduct new sea trials.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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