BEIJING - The People’s Liberation Army Air Force declassified its latest hardware, the J-35A stealth fighter jet, saying the model will make its public debut at an upcoming airshow.

       Colonel Niu Wenbo from the PLA Air Force’s Equipment Department told reporters at a news conference in Beijing on Nov 5 that the J-35A will take part in the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, set for Nov 12 to 17 in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

       According to him, the J-35A is a mid-size stealth combat plane with multiple roles.

       Besides showing a picture of the J-35A at an airport, the officer did not give details about the new aircraft such as whether it has been commissioned or how it will be shown to the public at the exhibition.

       The long-anticipated J-35 series has been a hot topic of speculation and analysis among military observers at home and abroad.

       Upon the commissioning of the J-35A, China will become the second nation, following the United States, to have two types of stealth fighter jets in active service.

       Currently, the PLA Air Force has deployed a large fleet of J-20 heavy-duty stealth combat aircraft, which was commissioned in late 2016.

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       The J-20 made its maiden public appearance at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in November 2016.

       Observers said there are several variants in the J-35 family, including one designed for the air force and another for deployment on aircraft carriers. The series has a common root, called the FC-31, which is a technology-demonstration prototype of stealth combat aircraft designed by the Aviation Industry Corp of China’s Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute, according to observers.

       The FC-31 was unveiled in October 2012 when the prototype made its maiden flight at the Zhuhai Airshow that year, becoming China’s second prototype of the 5th-generation fighter jet, following the J-20.

       Known as the Zhuhai Airshow, the biennial China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition is the country’s largest arms show and is recognised as one of the world’s most significant defence exhibitions. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK