Opinion In Next Operation, Why India Will Need to Strike Pak Airbases First to Neutralize Potential J-35 Stealth Threat

The potential acquisition of Chinese J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighters by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is compelling a significant shift in Indian military strategy, according to defence analysts.

Experts suggest that to counter the advanced threat, the Indian Air Force (IAF) must prioritise preemptive strikes on Pakistani airbases before terrorist infrastructure to cripple the PAF fleet before it can be deployed in any counterstrikes.

This emerging doctrine is heavily influenced by the tactical successes of "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025, where the IAF conducted large-scale strikes against PAF air installations.

The Shenyang J-35A is a twin-engine, multi-role stealth fighter, which represents a generational leap in aerial combat technology. Its design focuses on low observability, making it difficult for conventional radar to detect.

The aircraft is expected to be equipped with advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and long-range PL-17 air-to-air missiles, capable of engaging targets from distances of over 200 kilometres.

Should the acquisition proceed, with reports suggesting a delivery of 12 to 24 jets by 2027-28, Pakistan would become the first operator of a fifth-generation fighter in South Asia.

This timeline places the PAF years ahead of India's indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, which is not anticipated to enter service until the mid-2030s.

The primary concern for Indian defence planners is the J-35A's proficiency in conducting Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) missions.

A SEAD operation is a military action designed to neutralise ground-based air defence systems like surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries and radar installations.

The stealth characteristics of the J-35A could allow it to penetrate India’s formidable multi-layered air defence network, which includes the powerful S-400 Triumf system, and target critical command and control centres, creating an opening for follow-on attacks by less advanced aircraft.

Analysts point to the recent "Operation Sindoor" as a guide for future strategy.

During "Operation Sindoor," which took place from May 7-10, 2025, the IAF executed precision strikes on 11 PAF airbases, including key installations at Nur Khan, Mushaf, and Rahim Yar Khan.

Using a combination of stand-off weaponry such as BrahMos cruise missiles, Rampage air-to-surface missiles, and Harop loitering munitions, the operation successfully damaged runways, hardened aircraft shelters, and radar equipment.

The strikes reportedly neutralised a significant portion of the PAF's fighting capability and revealed critical vulnerabilities in Pakistan's Chinese-supplied HQ-9B air defence system, which was unable to counter the coordinated assault.

This experience has solidified the view that a proactive offence is the most effective defence against the J-35A threat.

"To counter this, the IAF must adopt a proactive strategy, striking airbases like Nur Khan, Mushaf, and Bholari, which are likely to host J-35As, to ground them before they can be deployed effectively," a defence analyst stated.

By destroying the jets on the ground, the IAF can prevent the PAF from leveraging its most advanced asset to degrade India's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), a sophisticated network that fuses data from the S-400, Akash-NG, and Barak-8 missile systems into a single, cohesive defensive shield.

Strategic PAF facilities, such as the Mushaf base in Sargodha, which already hosts F-16 and JF-17 squadrons, and the modern Bholari airbase located just 270 km from the international border, are considered high-priority targets in any preemptive strike plan.

While Pakistan's challenging economic situation may limit the number of J-35As it can procure and operate, even a small, technologically superior fleet presents a strategic threat that India cannot afford to ignore.

The lessons from Operation Sindoor indicate that first decisive action against enemy airpower at its source will be essential to maintaining air superiority in a future conflict.

 

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[sanket]

Oh, let China first develop 5th Gen engine and induct it. J-35 development is on, and China is yet to induct it. Pakistan may get it by 2030 and not before that. S-500 is a good choice to have with longer range detection as well as missile range.

 

[Hawkeye]

Absolutely, we are soon buying at least 52 SU-57s to begin with.

 

[Avada kedavra]

I read on this same platform that ever since Operation Sindhoor, the military did not feel an urgent necessity to buy 5th gen planes since they can just throw missiles at everything. The solution to every problem is throwing missiles, just like how Iran did against Israel.

 

[Flanker]

FGFA program was utter nonsense, sabotaged our 5th gen acquisition, now we have to deal with this ffs. 🤦‍♂️

 

[Jabberwock]

I read on this same platform that ever since Operation Sindhoor, the military did not feel an urgent necessity to buy 5th gen planes since they can just throw missiles at everything. The solution to every problem is throwing missiles, just like how Iran did against Israel.

Yes, old doctrines. I'm pretty sure by now, IAF operated on colonial French doctrine, which is to send SCALP-EG and rely on reduced RCS for the frontal section of Rafale. India needs to change strategy and consult with modern warfare experts, not a country which doesn't operate stealth platforms like France!

 

[Mc Addy]

In next operation , don't do anything but cut the head of the snake, meaning kill, kill and kill all the top military and civilian leadship of Pakistan in one go , rest nothing is needed. Why kill military working class , when plan is by top brass. See Israel and do the rest . nonsenses runway and J35 rat crap.

 

[Avada kedavra]

FGFA program was utter nonsense, sabotaged our 5th gen acquisition, now we have to deal with this ffs. 🤦‍♂️

No. There was no other choice. India did not have the industrial capacity it has today to start its own 5th gen program. The Russians also got exposed for their duplicity.

 

[Python]

Need to induct photonic radars and Surya VHF radars in large numbers to track J-35. Need Gandiva to hit them, and also Rudram-3 for anti-AD missions.

 

[Madan1]

I read on this same platform that ever since Operation Sindhoor, the military did not feel an urgent necessity to buy 5th gen planes since they can just throw missiles at everything. The solution to every problem is throwing missiles, just like how Iran did against Israel.

That will allow free airspace for the enemies to operate. You can't just depend on missiles alone. Israel got free airspace in Iran. Indian defence forces have to come out of self-patting mode and review their shortcomings in Operation Sindoor. Mistakes have to be admitted before their rectification. Our enemies won't give you a second chance like India did all the time in the past. Get your house in order fast.

 

[Sandeep]

First the Chinese hardware never works as stated in the glossy brochures. Second its engine is not optimized for the job. Third, Indian radars can detect it with ease. Fourth, once detected then it can be shot down.

Who is paying Ranesh Ranjan to write all this as if an American F35 has come into Chinese hands. The Chinese version is reverse engineered with copied and approximate technology. I doubt it will ever work the way it is stated. China uses Pakistan as test bed without proper certification. We learnt all about Chinese hardware during Operation Sindoor. It is no good.

 

[Sriraheja]

Chinese jets piloted by Pakistani pilots. A plum cake on a platter for India.

 

[Indian1]

Alarm bells are ringing not in India but in Pakistan and China. They fear that in the next round, J 35A will be proved to be a useless junk.

 

[Kira]

Since the F-35 won't remain such a holy cow in the near future, India should order at least 2 or 3 squadrons to counter J-35 and upcoming J-20 deployment in Tibet.

 

[Herak Bhowmik]

India desperately needs the Su-57 with Indian upgrades and the Russian R-37, as well as S-500 defence. AMCA will become operational in 2035 at best. By that time, China will have 6th Gen jets.

 

[Nahian Ramim]

Or buy Su-57 with Indian GaN radar which will be much more powerful than J-35s because of raw size. Pakistan will get the J-35 with WS-21s, which are basically buffed RD-33MK.

 

[NRI Singh]

Progress is simultaneously going in the right path. Rome wasn't built in a day. What we have done in the last 15 years is exceptionally good. Things are already looking rosy given the present situation. God willing, our deterrent with modern weapons will not come to physical fighting.