Recently, several J-35 fighter jets were seen parked in a folded-wing configuration at a naval carrier-based aircraft training base. Folded wings are an important feature of carrier-based aircraft, and this development indicates that the J-35 is fully ready for carrier operations.
In late October 2021, the J-35 successfully completed its maiden flight, becoming the People’s Liberation Army’s second stealth fighter jet after the J-20 and the world’s second stealth carrier-based fighter jet following the United States’ F-35. In May of last year, the J-35 was unveiled in a “navy gray” paint scheme, and in July, it was assigned naval aviation unit markings. Additionally, the J-35 has been equipped with the more powerful WS-13 “Tai Shan” engine, replacing the original Russian-made RD-93 engine.
The J-35 is not the only option for the aircraft carrier Fujian. Due to the extensive experience of the J-15 on the Liaoning and Shandong carriers, the catapult-launched J-15T will complement the J-35, forming a formidable air combat duo on the Fujian. The J-15T, which had the “Flying Shark” emblem painted on its tail earlier this year, has already entered service in large numbers, preparing for electromagnetic catapult tests on the Fujian.
Compared to the baseline J-15, the J-15T features a catapult towbar to connect with the electromagnetic catapult slider. It has also removed the pitot tube from the nose, and the radar fairing and fuselage have been redesigned from a vertical orientation to a tilted one to accommodate a more powerful active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar. The baseline J-15 uses an L-shaped wingtip pylon to carry PL-8 air-to-air missiles, while the J-15T uses a straight pylon capable of carrying the more potent PL-10 missiles.
In the future operational system of the Fujian aircraft carrier, the J-35 stealth fighters will primarily be used for high-speed penetration, covert attacks, and gaining air superiority. The J-15T, on the other hand, will provide fire support. The KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft will offer information gathering and guidance for the carrier strike group. Additionally, the AR-11 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in its carrier-based version can serve as a wingman to assist the J-35 in combat, enhancing the intensity of firepower.