The People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) has begun testing a new generation carrier-based fighter. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
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According to her, military pilot and crew member of the Liaoning aircraft carrier Zhang Naigang spoke about this on China Central Television. However, the program did not show images or footage of the newest fighter.
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As the newspaper notes, China is developing a carrier-based fighter called the J-31 or J-35. It is believed to be one of the modifications of the Chinese fifth-generation heavy twin-engine fighter FC-35, which made its first flight in 2012.
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In April a photograph circulated on Chinese social networks showing the newest fighter jet on the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier.
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Currently, the main carrier-based fighter of the PLA is the J-15, which in turn was developed by China based on the Su-33 prototype purchased from Ukraine.
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Currently, the PLA Navy has two aircraft carriers. The first of them – “Liaoning” – was built on the basis of the unfinished Soviet heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Varyag”, bought by China from Ukraine, the second – “Shandong” – was designed on the basis of “Liaoning”. Both ships are equipped with a non-nuclear propulsion system. “Shandong” is distinguished by a larger hangar, as well as the slope of the take-off ramp: it is 12, not 14 degrees. In addition, its superstructure occupies 10% less deck space compared to the first PLA aircraft carrier, but is one level higher.
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China’s third aircraft carrier Fujian was launched in June 2022. Unlike the Liaoning and Shandong, it does not have a take-off ramp: instead, for carrier-based aircraft flights, it uses the classic CATOBAR scheme – for these purposes the ship is equipped with electromagnetic catapults and an arresting arrester. The total displacement of the aircraft carrier is about 80 thousand tons. A modification of the J-15T carrier-based fighter, adapted for electromagnetic catapults, was developed especially for it. Fujian will be transferred to the Navy in 2025.
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China is also building a fourth aircraft carrier, which is expected to be nuclear-powered.
