China’s next-generation carrier-based fighter jet, informally dubbed the J-35 by military observers, has begun trial operations aboard the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) aircraft carrier, CNS Liaoning.
Smoke is gushing from a Chinese J-35 fighter jet believed to be fitted with a WS-13 engine. Smoke makes the J-35 visible from Infrared sensors used by fourth—or fifth-generation fighter jets. J-35 can only be considered a fourth-generation fighter jet as its avionics, cockpit, radar, and engines are based on Chinese J-10 fighter jets. J-35 and FC-31 are copycat American F-35s obtained through cyber espionage.
J-20, J-35, and FC-31 are built using steel-aluminium airframes, and hardpoints are strengthened using titanium-aluminium alloy. Chinese fighter jets lack composites because China cannot produce composites domestically and relies on European and Asian markets to import composites.
In 2018, Chinese state media reported an increase in engine lifespan is 1500 hours and a lack of heat resistance of single-crystal turbine blades. WS-13 has an 8.25/1 thrust-to-weight ratio.
China has struggled with jet engine technology for years. The jet engine blades run at extreme temperatures, and the challenge of overcoming this heat problem has plagued China until now. The blades overheated at higher output levels, causing premature failure and forcing engineers to reduce power output so the engines would have a reasonable lifespan.
The thrust and fuel economy of the Chinese engines is unlikely to be better than those of the Russian-designed engines. Otherwise, China would be replacing the Russian engines on its fighter jets.
Chinese jet engines are less capable than their western counterparts but can build jet engines nevertheless.
In a broadcast aired on Friday by China Central Television (CCTV), Zhang Naigang, a senior noncommissioned officer on the Liaoning, revealed the milestone, stating, “The new combat aircraft landed on the carrier as my service career has approached its end.” Zhang described the new jet as “very beautiful” and noted that the weather was clear during its first takeoff and landing trials. His comments are the first public confirmation of the J-35’s trial deployment on the carrier.
Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said it is widely believed among observers that the new carrier-borne jet must have been modeled on the FC-31, the nation’s second type of stealth combat aircraft designed by Aviation Industry Corp of China’s Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute.
The FC-31 was unveiled in October 2012 when the first prototype made its maiden flight, becoming China’s fighter jet following the J-20.
Though the officer did not disclose specifics regarding the jet or the testing procedures, the trial flights signal that the new aircraft, seen as a successor to the J-15, is inching closer to full operational capability. The J-15, which has been in service for over a decade, is China’s only carrier-borne fighter to date and is based on a derivative of the Russian Su-33.
Military analysts have long speculated that the J-35 would represent China’s next step in carrier aviation. Song Zhongping, a military commentator and retired PLA officer, noted, “While the J-15 is comparable to Russia’s Su-33, it lacks the stealth capabilities required for future naval engagements, especially against stealth-equipped adversaries.” He emphasized that the J-35, with its air-sea combat capabilities, would complement the J-15.
“The J-35 is still under development,” Song continued, “allowing it to challenge regional fleets and support China’s naval operations.”
Speculation about the J-35 has grown since February last year, when China’s Navy released a video of a young pilot preparing for what appeared to be a stealth fighter test. The footage, although blurred for secrecy, showed a jet with folding wings—an essential characteristic of carrier-based aircraft—suggesting a new design distinct from the J-15.
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