Latest news with #J-15
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Reveals Major Boost to Aircraft-Carrier Force
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Chinese media reported that the number of fighter pilots recruited for the country's aircraft-carrier fleet hit a record high this year, as part of the East Asian power's rapid naval buildup. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment via email. Why It Matters China operates the world's largest navy by hull count, with over 370 ships and submarines in service, including two aircraft carriers. In June, both aircraft carriers were simultaneously deployed to the broader Western Pacific, demonstrating the country's growing naval power. While the United States continues to possess the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet—with 11 operational vessels—the Chinese navy is set to commission its third and most-advanced aircraft carrier, with reported plans to build the nation's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. File photo: The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS "Shandong" sails into Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. File photo: The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS "Shandong" sails into Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. Chan Long Hei/AP Photo What To Know China Central Television reported on Friday that the People's Liberation Army Navy—the official name of the Chinese navy—has recently concluded its pilot recruitment for the year. The intake includes high school graduates, students from naval aviation schools, and recent bachelor's and master's degree graduates from both military and civilian universities, the report said. It described the recruitment sources as "increasingly diverse and optimized." The report said that both the number of candidates meeting the standards for carrier-based fighter pilots and the proportion of qualified applicants have reached record levels. While the report did not provide exact figures, it added that "tens of thousands of young students" across China had "enthusiastically" signed up for naval pilot recruitment, significantly expanding the recruitment and selection base compared to previous years. Citing a military expert, Chinese state media Global Times said that the recruitment performance aligned with the development of the country's carrier-based aircraft, referring to the increasing variety and number of planes designed to operate from aircraft carriers. Last November, the Chinese military officially unveiled two carrier-based fighter jets—the J-15T and the J-15D. Unlike the original J-15 variant, the T model is capable of taking off from all three Chinese aircraft carriers, which use two different aircraft launching systems. Meanwhile, the D variant of the J-15 family is designed to conduct electronic warfare missions, matching its U.S. counterpart—the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. The Chinese military is also developing a stealth carrier-based fighter aircraft as one of the variants of the J-35 family, alongside the J-35A, which is designed for the nation's air force. Chinese J-15 carrier-based fighter jets are displayed during the open event of the aircraft carrier CNS "Shandong" in Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. Chinese J-15 carrier-based fighter jets are displayed during the open event of the aircraft carrier CNS "Shandong" in Hong Kong on July 3, 2025. Dai Menglan/China News Service/VCG via AP What People Are Saying Chinese military affairs expert Fu Qianshao told the Global Times on Friday: "The fact that pilot recruitments have reached a new high shows that the intake is steadily increasing, which aligns with the development trend of China's carrier-based aircraft." The Pentagon commented in its report on Chinese military power: "In 2023, the [People's Liberation Army] transferred the majority of [People's Liberation Army Navy] land-based fighter and bomber aircraft, air defense, and airfield units to the [People's Liberation Army Air Force] to refocus [People's Liberation Army Navy] efforts on developing a carrier-based aviation force." What Happens Next Chinese pilots assigned to carrier-based aviation units will need to be capable of both flying aircraft and operating electronic warfare systems in the future, the Global Times reported—raising the bar for professional skills and expanding the demand for talent across disciplines.
The Star
24-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Rare close-ups signal China's J-35 stealth jets ready for Fujian carrier
Rare close-up images of two PLA Navy J-35 stealth fighters flying in close formation have surfaced online, giving the clearest view yet of China's next-generation carrier-based aircraft. A military observer said the markings and flight characteristics offered the strongest evidence yet that the J-35 had entered production and was approaching operational readiness for deployment aboard China's latest aircraft carrier. Unlike previously circulated ground-based photos, the latest images appear to be air-to-air studies in tight formation. Their clearly visible identification marks suggest the fifth-generation fighter jets have entered initial production, according to former People's Liberation Army instructor Song Zhongping. The images, which first began circulating on China's X-like Weibo at the weekend, show the jets bearing clear 'Chinese navy' markings on their fuselages and 'Flying Shark' insignia on their tails – the strongest visual indication yet of formal naval integration. These markings, along with the official serial numbers '0011' and '0012', suggested the fighters were part of a low-rate initial production run, Song said. 'The Flying Shark insignia confirms the J-35 has joined the navy's carrier aviation force,' he said. 'It indicates the aircraft may have been in active service and is building combat and logistical support capabilities.' Though the latest photos provide the clearest view, the J-35 itself is not an unfamiliar aircraft. Earlier prototypes have been spotted flying alongside J-15 carrier-based and J-20 stealth fighters, as well as early-warning aircraft, during rehearsals for a September 3 military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Earlier this month, a programme by state broadcaster CCTV featuring the J-15T at its production facility clearly showed at least two 'green-primed' J-35 airframes in the background. The green primer layer is a coating used during the aircraft manufacturing process, before final painting and outfitting. The airframes were not blurred – in a departure from a technique frequently used by the PLA to prevent inadvertent exposure of advanced military technologies. Earlier state media reports have also implied that the J-35 is operating in tandem with the J-15T fighter in a high-low capability pairing, moving towards a balanced carrier-based combat system. The J-35 is expected to undergo extensive land-based training as well before being fully deployed aboard China's newest and most advanced carrier. There are widespread expectations that the J-35 will become the main fighter jet aboard the Fujian, China's first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults designed to launch heavier aircraft with higher payloads. The warship has undergone eight sea trials and is expected to enter service before the end of the year. Military observers commenting on the latest J-35 photos on social media noted that neither aircraft featured traditional nose-mounted airspeed probes or 'pitot tubes'. This typically indicated that the model had successfully completed its prototype and testing phases, and had entered formal production. However, Song said that was not always a definitive indicator. 'Modern airspeed systems no longer require traditional external pitot tubes [for testing]. Sensors can now be embedded internally, improving the fighter's stealth capabilities and aerodynamic efficiency.' He also downplayed online speculation about the significance of the two J-35s flying side by side, saying: 'Flying two aircraft – a lead and a wingman – is the most basic tactical formation. It's standard procedure.' The emergence of the high-definition images of fully painted operational J-35 models marks a significant step forward for the PLA's naval fighter programme. It places China alongside the United States as the only countries operating two distinct fifth-generation stealth fighters, with at least one variant capable of carrier-based operations. For China they are the J-20 land-based and J-35 carrier-capable jets, while the US has the land-based F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters including the carrier-capable F-35C. The carrier-based J-35 and the land-based J-35A for the PLA Air Force both stem from the earlier FC-31 demonstrator but have evolved into specialised platforms that significantly enhance China's military aviation capabilities. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- General
- Newsweek
China Reveals Encounter With Western Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military reported encountering a foreign aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, where the East Asian power maintains sweeping sovereignty claims over most of the waters. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for further comment via email. Why It Matters China and neighboring countries—including the Philippines, a United States mutual defense treaty ally—are involved in ongoing territorial disputes over maritime features in the energy-rich South China Sea, often leading to standoffs and clashes between rival maritime forces. Encounters between Chinese and foreign military aircraft and vessels are not uncommon as Beijing has accused foreign militaries of conducting "close-in" operations by approaching its territorial airspace and waters, both of which extend 13.8 miles from the country's coastline. What To Know The Chinese military—officially known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA)—published a news story on Thursday about flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong. While the article focused on the Shandong's fighter jets launching from and landing on the flight deck, it also said that during an unspecified summer in the South China Sea, a foreign aircraft carrier was spotted approaching the Shandong and its naval task group. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet during the open event of the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong in Hong Kong on July 4. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet during the open event of the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong in Hong Kong on July 4. Dai Menglan/China News Service/VCG via AP It further said that the unidentified foreign aircraft carrier frequently launched aircraft that flew toward the Chinese carrier at high speed, prompting the Shandong to enter what it described as "combat status" and launch J-15 fighter jets armed with weapons in response. According to the article, the Chinese fighter aircraft "successfully drove away" the foreign aircraft after dogfighting—a term that refers to close-range maneuvers between two aircraft. This was the second encounter between Chinese and foreign aircraft carriers publicized by China this year. In April, Chinese media aired footage showing a J-15 fighter jet flying close to a fighter aircraft that appears to be an F/A-18, operated by the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier fleet. In early July, both the U.S. and China deployed aircraft carriers in the South China Sea—USS George Washington and the Shandong, respectively. The former was operating in the Timor Sea, north of Australia, as of Tuesday, according to photos released by the U.S. Navy. Open-source satellite imagery spotted the Shandong at its home port on China's southern island of Hainan—north of the South China Sea—on Thursday. The warship was one of two Chinese aircraft carriers simultaneously deployed in the broader western Pacific in June. 🔍 🇨🇳PLAN Naval Watch: Recent imagery shows the bulk of the South Sea Amphibious Fleet back in port at Zhanjiang. However, the activity doesn't stop there! We're tracking a Type 075 LHD inbound to Longpo/Yulin, alongside a flurry of movements just outside Longpo/Yulin… — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) July 18, 2025 What People Are Saying The U.S. Pacific Fleet told Newsweek in April: "We don't have a comment on specific operations, engagements, or training, but we routinely operate in the vicinity of foreign aircraft and ships in international waters and airspace in the Indo-Pacific." Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said in May 2023: "[T]he U.S. side has frequently sent aircraft and vessels to conduct close-in reconnaissance on China, seriously threatening China's sovereignty and security. Such provocative and dangerous moves are the root cause for maritime security issues." What Happens Next It is likely that close encounters between Chinese and foreign forces—particularly those of the U.S.—will continue as both sides maintain their presence in the western Pacific.
Yomiuri Shimbun
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Chinese Military Jet Abnormally Approaches SDF Plane Again
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — A Chinese military jet approached a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force reconnaissance plane as close as about 30 meters over the East China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday, Japan's Defense Ministry said Thursday. There was no damage to the ASDF plane or its crew. Over the incidents, the Japanese government conveyed grave concern to the Chinese side through diplomatic and defense channels and strictly demanded measures to prevent a recurrence. This is the fourth time since June 11 that the Japanese ministry has announced an abnormal approach by a Chinese military aircraft. According to the ministry, a JH-7 fighter-bomber of the Chinese military repeatedly approached a YS-11EB information-gathering plane of the ASDF flying over the high seas for about 15 minutes until around 11:05 a.m. Wednesday and for about 10 minutes until around 10:10 a.m. Thursday. The distance between the two planes was as close as about 30 meters horizontally in Wednesday's incident and about 30 meters vertically in Thursday's. In both incidents, the Chinese military jet approached the ASDF plane diagonally from below on the right, overtook it, and then turned and reapproached it. The Chinese jet appeared to be equipped with a missile, but whether it was real or dummy is uncertain. On June 7 and 8, a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong abnormally approached a Maritime SDF plane over the Pacific.
Japan Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Chinese fighter jet flies within 70 meters of SDF plane: Japan gov't
A Chinese fighter jet flew close to a Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft over international waters in the East China Sea, Japan's government said Thursday, in a move that could strain ties between the two countries. Following the close encounters within 70 meters between a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber and an ASDF YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft on Wednesday and Thursday, the government said it expressed "serious concerns" to China, calling for preventive measures. According to the Defense Ministry, a JH-7 approached a YS-11EB, which was carrying out surveillance, for about 15 minutes from around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday. A similar incident occurred for some 10 minutes from around 10 a.m. on Thursday. The ministry warned that such "abnormal approaches" may cause "accidental collisions." The latest incident came after the ministry confirmed that a Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong flew as close as about 45 meters to a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific on June 7 and 8. The ministry also said that a Chinese J-15 flew across the P-3C's flight path at a distance of about 900 meters on June 8. The Japanese government has conveyed to China its "serious concern" and demanded that China take steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. In reference to the June incidents, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had accused Japan of "coming close and spying on China's normal military activities," calling on Tokyo to stop such "dangerous actions." © KYODO
