China’s J-35A stealth fighter, an F-35 equivalent developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, appears to be edging closer to serial production, with new images of an unpainted prototype fueling speculation it has entered its final pre-deployment stage.

Almost six months have passed since the next generation aircraft stunned the world, with more sightings adding to clues and speculation.

A Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C plane was followed by a Chinese J-15 fighter for around 40 minutes on Saturday and 80 minutes on Sunday, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday. The Chinese jet flew within 45 meters of the patrol plane at the same altitude, according to Tokyo.

In a matter of embarrassment for China, a Chinese fighter plane was shot down by militants while it was on an air mission in Myanmar.

Shandong University says breakthroughs led by Professor Xu Xiangang have helped the Mighty Dragon triple its radar detection range China's J-20 stealth fighter has tripled its radar detection range, thanks to semiconductor advancements over the past two decades led by Shandong University scientist Xu Xiangang,

Pakistan's government this month announced that China has offered to sell it its new military equipment, including 40 of its advanced fifth-generation J-35 fighter jets and ballistic missile defense systems following Islamabad's armed conflict with India in May.