In the last few hours, the Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter has once again become the center of international attention after new images and videos circulated showing it taking off from the deck of the new aircraft carrier Fujian (CV-18) of the People’s Liberation Army Navy of China (PLAN), employing the electromagnetic catapult system that equips the flagship. The material disseminated through Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources offers some of the clearest visual evidence to date regarding the progress of tests that continue to be carried out between the new fifth-generation fighter and China’s third aircraft carrier.
The images clearly show a Shenyang J-35 performing maneuvers on the deck of the Fujian, including the catapult-assisted launch phase, a key element that differentiates this ship from its predecessors, the Liaoning (CV-16) and the Shandong (CV-17), both equipped with ski-jump type ramps. Along the same lines, the adoption of electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) represents a qualitative leap for China’s carrier-based aviation, allowing for the operation of heavier aircraft with greater payload and fuel, in addition to expanding the range of aerial platforms.
Although Chinese authorities have not issued an official statement confirming the exact nature of these tests, the visual material reinforces the evaluations of observers, who maintain that the J-35 is in an advanced phase of trials on the aircraft carrier—an indispensable step prior to its operational incorporation into the Carrier Air Group comprised of the J-15T fighters and the new KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Key advance in J-35 integration
The Shenyang J-35, developed as a fifth-generation stealth fighter by the state-owned Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, is oriented toward both carrier-based and land-based operations. Regarding the latter, its development has bifurcated into two main variants, namely: the J-35A with conventional landing and takeoff to equip the PLA Air Force, while the second is a variant embarked from aircraft carriers, being the first fifth-generation aircraft developed by China to operate from this class of vessels. Regarding the latter, the J-35 is called to become the main aerial vector for the future aircraft carriers of the Asian Giant.
Designed with an emphasis on low radar signature, advanced sensors, and the capacity to operate in highly contested environments, the program seeks to complement and, eventually, expand the capabilities currently offered by the J-15.
The disseminated images are also part of a sequence of recent advances for the J-35 program. In recent months, details related to its stealth characteristics became known, while the progress of its serial production was confirmed, suggesting that China aims for a phased but sustained incorporation of the model in both the Navy and the Air Force.
Finally, it should not be overlooked that, from a broader perspective, the combination of the aircraft carrier Fujian, its electromagnetic catapults, and the J-35 fighter reinforces China’s intention to operate vessels with capabilities comparable to those of the world’s leading navies.
*Cover image used for illustrative purposes.
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