China’s J-35 stealth fighter jet begins trials on aircraft carriers

China's J-35 stealth fighter jet begins trials on aircraft carriers Image: HenriKenhmann/X

VoM News Desk | September 15, 2024 | 09:22 AM IST | Breaking News, China, Science & Technology, World | Follow on Google News

China’s J-35 stealth fighter jet begins trials on aircraft carriers

China’s J-35 stealth fighter jet begins trials on aircraft carriers

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has begun testing a navalized variant of its advanced J-35 fighter jet, according to Chinese state media. China Central Television (CCT) reported that the new fighter has already started trials on a Chinese carrier, CNS Liaoning.

Revealed through a video clip released on Friday (Sept 13), Zhang Naigang, a senior non-commissioned officer aboard the Liaoning, expressed his pride at the development. “The new combat aircraft landed on the carrier as my service career is nearing its end,” he said on tape.

Naigang described the new jet as “very beautiful,” adding that its first landing and takeoff test occurred on a clear day. “It was much like the day when the J-15 performed its first takeoff from the ship,” Zhang recalled, referencing the Navy’s current carrier-borne fighter jet.

According to the report, he personally witnessed the new jet’s first takeoff from Liaoning and was both “excited and proud.” China Daily reports that Zhang heads the takeoff section under the aircraft operations support department on the Liaoning.

A significant development for the PLAN

While he did not provide further details about the new fighter or its tests, his comments effectively confirmed the aircraft’s trial deployment on the carrier. This isn’t the first time the Navy has hinted at a new fighter jet for carriers since the J-15 entered service over a decade ago.

In February 2023, the PLAN put out a recruitment video showing a young pilot given a tough task walking toward what seemed to be a stealth fighter with folding wings. This indicates the aircraft in question is designed for carrier-based operations.

The aircraft’s details are still confidential, but military analysts believe it is called the J-35. Details are thin on the ground, but this is believed to be a new-generation, stealth, carrier-borne combat plane.

Pictures of a mid-sized stealth fighter have also circulated on Chinese weapons websites and have added to the speculation that the J-35 is almost ready for service. China’s carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, both use ski jump ramps for aircraft launches, primarily operating the J-15 fighter.

J-35 nearing operational status?

According to the National Interest, the J-35 was initially designed for operation from China’s electromagnetic catapult-equipped Type 003 Fujian carrier. The J-35 promises enhanced radar capabilities and reduced radar signature alongside a significant payload capacity.

The J-35 was developed for both the People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Reports about the J-35 first surfaced in June 2020, claiming that it was a more “production-ready” version with smoother lines, a larger radome for a bigger radar, and a closer alignment of control surfaces to reduce its radar signature.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by VoM News staff and is published from the syndicated feed)

VoM News Desk

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