Chinese efforts modernising and expanding indigenous carrier aviation capabilities have taken several notable development steps over the last few months. The newest aircraft carrier Fujian, currently fitting out in Shanghai, is of course a significant motivating force behind all these programs. The catapult-equipped carrier, a first for China, will possibly undergo her first sea trial within weeks. However, recently observed developments also carry operational implications for PLAN’s current force of two STOBAR (ramp launch) -equipped carriers Liaoning and Shandong. This article aims to provide a brief overview and update regarding relevant recent events.
KJ-600 carrier-borne AEWC aircraft
The KJ-600 is China’s incoming fixed wing airborne early warning and control (AEWC)-platform. The aircraft is in overall configuration similar to the E-2 Hawkeye-series of aircraft operated by the US Navy. First flight for the type occurred in August 2020. Assuming imagery of flying airframes with serial numbers is reliable, at least six prototypes or pre-production aircraft, numbered 7101 through 7106, exist so far. Furthermore the type in December 2023 has started to appear at China’s land-based catapult testing facility at the Huangdicun naval aviation base. In addition a mockup of the KJ-600 is now also present on the aircraft carrier Fujian, in addition to mockups of fighter jet types J-15 and J-35.
The observation of additional flying prototypes in addition to land-based catapult testing and mock-up testing on Fujian suggests the overall effort is proceeding relatively smoothly. It is unclear at this stage whether China intends to also introduce a cargo-variant of the KJ-600 for carrier onboard delivery (COD)-roles similar to what the USN does with the C-2 Greyhound. Furthermore it is also questionable whether the type will see service off Liaoning and Shandong. Given the STOBAR-carriers respective design-inherent limitations for aircraft launch and stowage, this seems unlikely, but remains to be confirmed.
J-35 new generation carrier-borne fighter
The J-35 represents the next generation of carrier-based fighter capability for PLAN, complementing and eventually replacing the Sukhoi Su-33 derived J-15. The first flight of J-35, itself a heavily revised development of the earlier FC-31 developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), occurred on October 29, 2021. It remains unclear how many J-35 are flying so far. Two flying prototypes or pre-production airframes appeared in Chinese social media imagery in late March. A mockup of the type started to appear on carrier Fujian in November 2023.
Importantly another mockup also started to appear on carrier Liaoning in February 2024. The first PLAN aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2012, was then just completing her midlife refit (MLU) and has since completed a first post-MLU sea trial. This appearance heavily hints at PLAN intentions to operate this new generation fighter from both the existing STOBAR-carriers and new catapult equipped hulls. Such a step seems logical also in light of PLAN’s requirement to complement and eventually replace its Russian-legacy J-15 across all carriers.
Similar to KJ-600 the appearance of more flying airframes in addition to mockup-testing onboard both carriers Fujian and Liaoning supports the notion that the overall J-35 program is progressing well. Whether the second carrier in service, Shandong, will see similar work in the near future remains to be seen. It is also conceivable that the newer carrier is already capable of supporting J-35. Alternatively the ship may undergo modification at a later stage, when her own MLU is due.
J-15 carrier-borne fighter
The J-15 represents PLAN’s current carrier-borne fighter capability and is in use on both Liaoning and Shandong. Based on observed numbered airframes seventy or more airframes are in service to supply aircraft for the two STOBAR-carriers and land-based training capacity. Beyond the original STOBAR-fighter variant J-15 has seen further development. This includes a two-seater version for training, the J-15S, but also a variant optimised for electronic warfare dubbed J-15D. In addition a version capable of catapult-launch is in active development and designated J-15B. This model is a continuation of work started with an airframe commonly referred to as J-15T. The original prototype first appeared in land-based testing around 2016.
Observable development on J-15D has been prolonged, with the configuration flying first in 2016. It remains unclear, to what degree the type will see introduction across China’s aircraft carrier fleet. At least one airframe continues active testing and the latest imagery of this effort dates from late March. Two mockups of the type have also previously appeared on Liaoning.
As for the catapult-launch capable variant J-15B, the most recent imagery again dates to March this year. Pictures circulated on social media show two airframes apparently conducting testing at land-based facilities. The fact that one mockup is present on Fujian suggests that development of the type for operational fielding is proceeding. The relative weighting of the program compared to J-35 and the resulting fleet mix onboard Fujian remains to be seen. It is conceivable that J-15B will become the new standard fighter also replacing older J-15 onboard Liaoning and Shandong. This requirement may arise, once airframes reach the end of useful life or obsolescence due to fitted equipment.
Carrier Fujian approaching first sea trial
In conclusion the recent months have shown lively activity for the development of Chinese carrier aviation. The ongoing testing of all three relevant fixed wing-aviation programs for PLAN suggests healthy progress in fielding an expanded and more modern carrier aircraft-capability. The most important next step in this regard is indubitably the first sea trial for carrier Fujian. The third Chinese carrier, and the first equipped with catapults for aircraft-launch, has earlier this year returned to her fitting out-berth, after completing some cleanup work in drydock. Most recently the ship has seen her life-rafts fitted and application of flightdeck markings is also currently underway. As such a first sea trial within weeks appears plausible now.
