In recent hours, images and videos have gone viral showing the new carrier-based J-15B fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Air Wing accompanying a remarkable and unprecedented formation of assets. This deployment, shared by China across several platforms, not only introduced the new carrier-based fighter variant but also marked a rare instance in which the Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17) aircraft carriers, along with a group of escorts, sailed together.
It is worth noting that there is no recent precedent for this kind of naval formation, where China’s Navy has surprised with the presence of a significant number of assets. According to many experts, this is not only a display of the Asian giant’s naval strength and capabilities but also a projection of power in the Indo-Pacific, where tensions with various countries in the region over disputed territories and overlapping sovereignty claims have become increasingly frequent.
During the aircraft carrier demonstration, a combined formation flyover of J-15A/B fighters from the Carrier Air Groups was observed. Captured images show nine J-15B fighters in the formation, distinguishable from the three J-15As by the lighter color of the radar radome, in a similar scheme to that seen during tests and evaluations conducted in recent months. This development is significant as the new variant of the carrier-based fighter is set to become the main combat aircraft of the Carrier Air Wings (CAW) on future Chinese aircraft carriers until the introduction of the new stealth fighter, the J-35.
The J-15B is the new version of the Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter, which is part of the Liaoning and Shandong Carrier Air Groups. The main difference from the J-15A lies in this new variant’s design, which is suited for CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) configuration, unlike the STOBAR configuration previously used by Chinese carrier-based fighters.
This change is due to the J-15B’s intended deployment on the new generation of Fujian-class carriers, which incorporate new electromagnetic catapult systems similar to the EMALS used by the U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers.
At the beginning of the year, a video released by CCTV, the Chinese government’s official broadcaster, reported on the J-15B’s takeoff and landing tests on a simulated carrier deck layout. Nonetheless, speculation was dispelled in September when the Liaoning (CV-16), during its latest Pacific voyage, conducted a series of takeoff and landing tests with J-15B fighters from its flight deck.
Given these developments, it seems inevitable to assume that the J-15B is now a reality within the Carrier Air Groups of Chinese carriers, on the verge of future evaluations with the Fujian (CV-18), which has been conducting the necessary sea trials, among other tests, before entering service. These include tests and evaluations of its electromagnetic catapult system, like those conducted last year involving the launch of a sled simulating the approximate takeoff weight of a real aircraft, estimated at around 36 tons.
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