The J35 was the U.S. Air Force's first axial-flow compressor engine. It was first developed by General Electric, but in 1947 production responsibility for the engine was given to the Allison Division of General Motors. By the time production ended in 1955, over 14,000 J35s had been built.

This engine powered several experimental and prototype aircraft over the years, including the X-5, XB-43, XB-45, XB-46, XB-47, XB-48, and XB-49. It was also used in the Republic F-84 Thunderjet and Northrop F-89 Scorpion fighters.

The J35 had an eleven-stage axial flow compressor and a single-stage axial turbine. It weighed over 2,800 pounds and produced well over 7,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner. It turned a maximum of 8,000 RPM and its maximum operating altitude was 50,000 feet.