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China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has begun trials for its next-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-35, aboard the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning. The announcement, reported by Chinese state media on September 13, marks a significant advancement in China’s naval aviation capabilities.
The J-35, a new addition to China’s carrier-based aircraft, has started its trial runs on the Liaoning, according to China Central Television (CCT). The media release featured a video with Zhang Naigang, a senior non-commissioned officer on the carrier, expressing pride in the new jet’s successful landing. “The new combat aircraft landed on the carrier as my service career is nearing its end,” Zhang noted. He described the jet as “very beautiful” and recounted the excitement of witnessing its first takeoff and landing, drawing comparisons to the J-15’s initial operations.
While specific details about the J-35 remain classified, Zhang’s comments confirm the aircraft’s deployment for carrier trials. This development aligns with previous hints about a new carrier-based fighter jet since the J-15 entered service over a decade ago. In February 2023, a PLAN recruitment video featured a stealth fighter with folding wings, suggesting its design for carrier operations.
According to Interesting Engineering, military analysts believe the J-35 is a new-generation, stealth carrier-borne aircraft. Images of a mid-sized stealth fighter circulating on Chinese military websites have further fueled speculation about its imminent service. The J-35 was originally designed for the Type 003 Fujian carrier, which features electromagnetic catapults, according to National Interest. The new fighter promises enhanced radar capabilities, a reduced radar signature, and a substantial payload capacity.
The J-35 made its maiden flight on October 29, 2021, and is equipped with a catapult launch bar and wing-fold mechanism. It is expected to operate with the Fujian’s electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (ALS), which is similar to the US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class EMALS system. This advancement underscores China’s commitment to bolstering its naval aviation capabilities with cutting-edge technology.
