Saudi Arabia’s recent decision to turn away from China’s J-35 stealth fighter in favor of collaborating with Western nations on a sixth-generation fighter jet marks a significant shift in the kingdom’s defense strategy and a notable setback for Beijing’s ambitions in the Middle East arms market. This move underscores Riyadh’s prioritization of advanced technology, reliability, and strategic alignment with Western powers over the cost-effective offerings China has been promoting. The J-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, has been positioned as a competitor to the American F-35 Lightning II, boasting advanced stealth capabilities and a lower price tag. Despite China’s aggressive marketing of the jet across the Middle East, including high-profile displays at defense expos like the International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia has opted for a different path, signaling a preference for quality and long-term security partnerships over immediate affordability.
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The kingdom’s decision comes amid ongoing discussions with the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, key players in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), which aims to develop a cutting-edge sixth-generation fighter. These talks, which have reportedly advanced, reflect Saudi Arabia’s ambition to secure a stake in next-generation aerial warfare technology. Unlike the J-35, a finished product with known limitations, the GCAP project promises a leap forward with features such as artificial intelligence integration, enhanced stealth, and the ability to coordinate with unmanned systems—capabilities that align with Riyadh’s vision for a modern, sustainable defense infrastructure. The collaboration with these Western nations also offers Saudi Arabia a chance to diversify its military partnerships beyond its traditional reliance on the United States, which has been hesitant to supply the kingdom with its own fifth-generation F-35 due to geopolitical considerations, including maintaining Israel’s regional military edge.
China’s J-35, while an attractive option on paper, has faced skepticism regarding its performance and reliability. Reports of operational failures with other Chinese military hardware, such as the CH-4 drones in conflict zones like Libya and Yemen, and the underwhelming performance of the HQ-9 air defense system compared to Western alternatives, have cast doubt on Beijing’s ability to deliver top-tier equipment. For Saudi Arabia, a nation increasingly focused on asserting its military prowess and securing its borders amid regional instability, these concerns likely outweighed the J-35’s lower cost. Pakistan remains the only confirmed foreign buyer of the jet, a deal some analysts suggest was driven more by Beijing’s political leverage over Islamabad than by the aircraft’s merits. Saudi Arabia, free of such pressures, appears to have made a calculated choice to invest in a future-proof platform rather than a potentially compromised one.
This pivot also carries broader implications for the Middle East arms market. China has been working to erode Western dominance in the region by offering affordable alternatives to American and European systems, a strategy that has seen some success with smaller nations. However, Saudi Arabia’s rejection of the J-35 could prompt other regional powers to reconsider their options, particularly as the kingdom’s decision highlights the perceived gaps in Chinese military technology when it comes to quality and battlefield performance. Meanwhile, the collaboration with the UK, Italy, and Japan positions Saudi Arabia as a potential leader in the development of sixth-generation capabilities, a move that could enhance its influence both regionally and globally. As the GCAP project progresses, with a deal expected to be finalized by the end of 2025, Riyadh’s bet on Western innovation over Chinese pragmatism may well redefine the aerial balance of power in the Middle East for decades to come.