China deploys upgraded J-15 fighters for aircraft carriers?

Several J-15B fighter jets have been spotted in footage and images of a recent exercise involving a Chinese aircraft carrier.

The South China Morning Post reported on the evening of November 1st that several J-15B aircraft, an upgraded version of China's fourth-generation J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, were spotted in footage and images of a naval exercise released on October 31st.

Without specifying the exact timing of the exercise, the Chinese navy said it marked the first time its two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, had participated in a joint naval exercise.

Footage released by China of an aircraft carrier training exercise appears to show the first-ever participation of J-15B fighter jets.

Along with an escort fleet, the two aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong are escorted by at least 32 J-15 fighter jets.

Andreas Rupprecht, a Chinese military aviation analyst in Germany, believes that at least nine of the twelve fighter jets in the images are J-15Bs.

"I have to admit that I'm still very excited to see [the J-15B] finally enter service and I'm looking forward to seeing more beautiful images of it," Rupprecht said.

However, Rupprecht suggested that "it appears the J-15B is still using the old AL-31F engine," instead of the domestically produced WS-10 engine, which is believed to have undergone testing, according to the South China Morning Post . There is currently no information on the Chinese navy's reaction to Rupprecht's assessment.

At least nine of the fighter jets participating in China's recent naval exercises are believed to be J-15Bs.

Previously, on July 8th, Nikkei Asia reported that China is developing a new stealth fighter jet for deployment on aircraft carriers. This will be a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet and is expected to be deployed on China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian.

China's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) released a video to the public in late June showcasing its newest stealth fighter, the J-31B, with the tagline "from land-based to sea-based." A Japanese source suggests the J-31B is designed to operate from aircraft carriers, according to Nikkei Asia .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-trien-khai-chien-dau-co-j-15-nang-cap-cho-tau-san-bay-185241102091140288.htm