In recent days, images have shown that China’s domestically produced J-35 stealth carrier-based fighter has already landed on the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier. Although it may only be a full-scale model, it is enough to prove that after this round of upgrades and modifications, Liaoning will have the capability to carry J-35 stealth fighters.
Previously, many people speculated that Liaoning and Shandong, the two ski-jump aircraft carriers, would quickly retreat to the second line or even retire early after the subsequent entry into service of the catapult-type carriers like Fujian, because the natural limitations of ski-jump carriers make it difficult for fifth-generation aircraft to be deployed. Many American experts also believed that fifth-generation aircraft like the J-35 would only be equipped on catapult-type carriers like the Fujian.
The PLA has proven with facts that these judgments are wrong. Military affairs consist of a series of facts, which have nothing to do with how one judges. The J-35 can indeed be deployed on ski-jump aircraft carriers. The participation of the J-35 in the deck scheduling trials of the Liaoning also proves that this carrier, under construction, will not only be transformed from a training ship to a combat ship but may also be the first carrier equipped with fifth-generation stealth carrier-based aircraft, leading the navy into the stealth era.
In early 2023, after completing its first 10-year service cycle, the Liaoning returned to the Dalian Shipyard for maintenance and upgrades. This upgrade is a comprehensive refurbishment and maintenance of the aircraft carrier, which takes a long time. Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity, the Liaoning also updated its electronic systems, weapons, and carrier-based aircraft, the most important of which is the inclusion of the domestically produced new generation carrier-based fighter, including the J-35 stealth fighter.
Compared to the existing J-15 on the Liaoning, the J-35 adopts stealth performance, making its combat capabilities stronger. Stealth aircraft have higher requirements for command and control, technical support, and logistics support systems and equipment. Pilots and ground crew also need corresponding training to operate and maintain stealth aircraft.
Due to the heavy combat and training tasks of the Shandong, which cannot be divided, the Liaoning is undergoing upgrades at the shipyard, coinciding with a schedule for corresponding modifications and trials. Therefore, the PLA has decided to have the Liaoning be the first to carry the J-35 stealth fighter, accumulating valuable experience for future stealth carrier-based combat aircraft operations.
The J-35 is the carrier-based fighter for the Fujian, and after the Fujian begins sea trials in 2024, the J-35 will also undergo onboard testing. However, considering that the Fujian is not expected to be in service until at least 2025, the Liaoning may deploy the J-35 even earlier.
Some people are concerned whether the J-35 can take off from the Liaoning and Shandong. Now it seems that this concern is unnecessary. In fact, the United States and France have been promoting the F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” and Rafale M carrier-based fighters to India, both of which are catapult-type carrier-based aircraft.
Since the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers are equipped with ski-jump decks, the United States and France have conducted tests at their own bases and Indian naval aviation bases to prove their ability to take off from ski-jump aircraft carriers. From this perspective, there should be no major problem with the J-35 stealth fighter landing on the Liaoning and Shandong.
After 2020, the threat posed by stealth aircraft in the maritime domain has become increasingly significant. The U.S. Navy already has three aircraft carriers carrying F-35C fighters, meaning the U.S. Navy can maintain one aircraft carrier strike group with stealth carrier-based fighters in the Asia-Pacific region at any time.
Furthermore, the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ships have been able to carry F-35B stealth fighters for a long time, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Izumo-class helicopter carriers are also undergoing modifications to carry F-35B stealth fighters. Considering that the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is planning to deploy carriers to the Far East in 2025, which will also be equipped with F-35B stealth fighters, the presence of F-35B and F-35C aircraft in our vicinity will become normalized.
As mentioned earlier, the J-35 fighter is the carrier-based aircraft for the Fujian, and considering that the Fujian is the PLA Navy’s first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, it will take a long time to develop its operational capabilities. During this period, the Liaoning’s deck will still mainly rely on the J-15 fighter in the short term, but given the current technological standards of the J-15, it is obviously unable to compete with F-35B and F-35C stealth fighters.
After the upgrade of the Liaoning, the deployment of the J-35 will enter a countdown. Therefore, the J-35 could potentially achieve operational capability as early as 2025, and the PLA Navy could have its first squadron of carrier-based stealth aircraft by 2025. This will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of PLA Navy carrier battle groups and provide solid groundwork for operating the J-35 on the Fujian, accumulating valuable experience.
Consequently, after the upgrade of the Liaoning, there may be significant changes in the carrier-based aircraft force. In high-threat situations, all J-35 stealth fighters may be deployed, and according to the configuration standards of the J-15, approximately 24 aircraft can be carried. This number already surpasses the U.S. Navy’s carriers, which generally carry one squadron of F-35C fighters, totaling 20 stealth fighters.
However, due to the payload capacity limitations of the J-35 fighter, its long-range strike capabilities are relatively weak. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the Liaoning may carry a mix of J-35 and J-15 fighters. The J-15 fighter, as a heavy carrier-based fighter, can carry large air-to-surface missiles with lengths of up to 9 meters and weights of 4 tons, capable of striking targets thousands of kilometers away, effectively compensating for the shortcomings of the J-35 stealth carrier-based fighter.
After the Liaoning carries the J-35, the Shandong may also follow suit. In 2025, the Shandong will undergo maintenance after five years of service, during which it may undergo corresponding upgrades to be capable of carrying J-35 fighters. In addition to the Fujian, which will enter service after 2025, the PLA Navy should have three aircraft carriers capable of carrying J-35 stealth carrier-based fighters by 2030, and be able to deploy one at sea at any time.
This layout has also invalidated the previous calculations of the U.S. military. The PLA’s carriers equipped with stealth fighters have suddenly increased from one to three. Will just one aircraft carrier strike group equipped with F-35C in the Western Pacific be sufficient? This is the question the U.S. military should consider. (Wang Yanan)