China's first naval stealth fighter, the Shenyang J-35, was spotted during a test flight last week. The images, released on 09/03, are the most recent of the aircraft 'invisible to radar' that will be used on board Chinese aircraft carriers.
The photos were initially posted on Weibo, a Chinese social network, before being shared more widely on X (formerly Twitter) by Chinese aviation enthusiasts. The images show the aircraft with its landing gear extended, possibly in an approach maneuver to the Shenyang plant, in Liaoning province.
Finally again some J-35 news! At least I haven't seen these images before 😊 … would be great to know the number!? 🤔
(Images via @RICKY One on Facebook) pic.twitter.com/BmmxWJ2gRE
- @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) March 9, 2024
As noted by the blog Chinese Military Aviation, the prototype seen in the photos, 3505, could be involved in tests with the tail hook (equipment used to stop the aircraft during embarked landings). “The hook appears to be encased within a “sheath” optimized to reduce RCS”, the publication speculates. The solution is similar to that seen in the United States' F-35C. The J-35 seen in the photos could also be the third prototype of the model.
Nice pics of J-35 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/qih2En1HnP
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The J-35 initially appeared in 2021 and is a version of the J-31/FC-31 adapted to operate on aircraft carriers. In the future, the naval fighter should be used from the new Chinese aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is still being tested. On the other hand, other pictures suggest that China plans to use the J-35 on its other two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong.
The Fujian is a CATOBAR type ship, which has electromagnetic catapults to launch its aircraft. The other vessels, however, are of the STOBAR class, where planes use a ramp on the bow to take off. Although it is a cheaper method to manufacture and maintain, STOBAR limits the takeoff weight of planes.
Even with these limitations, the eventual use of the J-35 aboard STOBAR aircraft carriers has its advantages. The 5th generation fighter would strengthen the Liaoning and Shandong's embarked air wing, currently made up of J-15 Flying Shark fighters (Chinese copy of Russian Su-33). It would also provide the Chinese Navy with important data and parameters on the onboard use of the new fighter, before deploying the aircraft aboard the Fujian aircraft carrier. In any case, its deployment aboard ships already in use by China is only speculative.
