A scale model of the J-35A stealth fighter jet is on display together with several types of missiles at the booth of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China during the Air Force Open-day Activities and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province on September 20, 2025. Photo: Liu Xuanzun/GT

China's J-35A stealth fighter jet is displayed together with an anti-radiation missile at an airshow on Saturday. This suggested that the J-35A could potentially carry out electronic warfare missions and strike hostile radar sites, an expert said on Saturday.

A scale model of the J-35A is on display with multiple types of missiles at the booth of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China during the Air Force Open-day Activities and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province. The event runs from Friday to Tuesday.

Alongside air-to-air missiles such as the PL-10E, PL-15E and PL-12AE, the LD-8A anti-radiation missile was also featured in the exhibition of the J-35A's arsenal.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, explained that an anti-radiation missile is a type of weapon that specifically targets radar installations, which radiates electromagnetic waves. Anti-radiation missiles can track and destroy the radiation source, but the use of anti-radiation missiles often requires electronic warfare aircraft with powerful sensors to detect the radiation source first.

The side-by-side display of the J-35A and the anti-radiation missile suggested that the J-35A could have a dedicated electronic warfare variant, or the J-35A can work together with electronic warfare aircraft in electronic warfare missions, Wang told the Global Times on Saturday.

The LD-8A anti-radiation missile displayed at the air show has a similar design to the PL-15E air-to-air missile, including their size and aerodynamic shape.

Wang said that the LD-8A anti-radiation missile could be a variant of the PL-15 series missile with an alternate seeker that receives and tracks a specific electromagnetic wave frequency. 

Based on the PL-15 platform and judging from the China's capabilities in electronic industry, this type of missile should be at a world-leading level, Wang said.