China just debuted its newest fifth-generation stealth aircraft, which appears to be its answer to the American F-35.

The J-35A took flight at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition on Tuesday in Zhuhai. The developer said the new jet will operate like a “point guard” for Chinese airpower, similar language for the “quarterback” F-35 made by US defense firm Lockheed Martin.

Apart from sharing a similar name with the American aircraft, the J-35A also has a similar design, the twin engines instead of a single turbofan engine aside. A similar appearance doesn’t mean they perform the same though, Business Insider reporter.

The air show was the first official look at the land-based J-35A, a fighter jet that has been in the works, in one form or another, for well over a decade. It’s based on an earlier design prototype that first flew in 2012. That design has been heavily reworked since.

Wang Yongqing, a senior expert with the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, part of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, told state-affiliated media that the company’s new J-35A has advanced stealth and intelligence features, prioritizing information warfare and collaboration with other aircraft.

Describing the Chinese aircraft as a “basketball point guard,” Wang said that “it not only has a strong point-scoring ability of its own, it also must assess the situation on the court clearly.” He added that beyond its own fighting abilities, “it can also form a killing network on the battlefield and play a more important role.”

State-affiliated media reported that its missions include air superiority and air-to-air engagements against both fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, intercepts of fighters and bombers, air defense against cruise missiles, ground attack, and the suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses. It is unclear at what level the aircraft can perform these missions.

There is also a carrier-based variant of the J-35. Chinese media reports have said that testing is underway.

At the airshow in Zhuhai, China also unveiled a new version of the PL-15 air-to-air missile made for China’s stealth fighters to carry internally to avoid sacrificing their low-observable characteristics. The Chinese jets will be able to carry six air-to-air mi The US-made F-35 Lightning II has been described by Pentagon and other military officials as the quarterback.

In Zhuhai, China also revealed an updated design for its stealthy CH-7 drone. (Chinese State Media; Business Insider; Photo © People's Liberation Army News Communication Center)