China's Navy Begins Testing Next-Generation Fighter Jet On One Of Its Aircraft Carriers

China tested a next-generation fighter jet on its aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning.
State media reported on the take-off and landing tests last week.
It is the first public confirmation of the J-35’s test deployment on the aircraft carrier.

China said it will launch its next-generation J-35 fighter jet on one of its aircraft carriers.

The announcement, which confirmed a successful landing and takeoff of the aircraft, is the first public confirmation that the J-35 is operating on the aircraft carrier.

Images published last week by China Central Television the test documentedwhich took place on the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning.

In the video, a senior non-commissioned officer on the Liaoning told CCTV about the historic tests, confirming that the J-35 had successfully taken off and landed from the carrier. However, the released videos do not show the J-35 taking off or landing.

Few details are known about the exercise, and it is unclear when and where the footage was recorded. However, the news does confirm that the carrier-based variant of the Chinese stealth fighter FC-31, also known as the J-35, has conducted its first tests on the aircraft carrier.

“A beautiful new fighter jet takes off from the aircraft carrier Liaoning”

This new fighter, probably the J-35, probably made its first flight from Liaoning CV

By one of the operators in an interview | Special episode “Hardening” Part III (edited) • Type 003 CV “Fujian” photo.twitter.com/d6A0YGQJ9T

— David Wang (@Nickatgreat1220) September 13, 2024

China currently has only one carrier-based fighter jet, the J-15, which entered service more than a decade ago, but there are rumors of a carrier-based variant of its new fifth generation hunter have spread. The The J-15 is a fourth-generation jet aircraft whose mission load of weapons and fuel is limited by its heavy weight.

In July 2022, it appeared that some of the first photos of the prototype of the J-35 stealth fighter on the aircraft carrier appeared online. The J-35 is estimated The aircraft is about 22,000 pounds lighter than the J-15 it was intended to replace, but still heavier than U.S. Navy fighter jets.

The Chinese Navy released a video in February 2023 showing a young naval pilot preparing for a flight in what appeared to be a new carrier-based jet aircraft.

An aerial drone photo shows China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian — Fujian, China’s newest aircraft carrier, features an advanced catapult launch system. Pu Haiyang/Xinhua via Getty Images

With the tests, the Chinese navy is preparing for a major leap forward in the capabilities of its carrier-based aircraft.

The Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, has a Soviet-style ski jump for launching aircraft. This places restrictions on the types of aircraft that can fly off the carrier and the specific cargo it can carry.

The CNS-FujianChina’s third aircraft carrier, made a major technological leap forward with an advanced catapult launch system similar to the U.S. Navy’s new Ford-class carriers. This means the Fujian can launch aircraft with heavier payloads for missions.

Experts and former Navy personnel previously told Business Insider that Fujian would give China the ability to launch more modern aircraft it is currently working on, such as the carrier-based variant of the J-35.

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