As the J-35A joins the J-20 in Chinese service, China becomes the second nation in the world to operate two different fifth-generation, stealthy fighters. The only other country to achieve this is the U.S., which flies the F-22A Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

China debuted the J-35A jet at an airshow that was attended by a senior Russian national security official, underlining Beijing’s ever-closer bonds with Moscow.