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Enoch Wong

A more powerful and advanced version of a Chinese ship-based jet fighter seems to be in service, appearing in official footage of aircraft carrier drills, according to a military analyst.
A number of J-15Bs, an updated variant of the fourth-generation twin-jet J-15 Flying Shark, were spotted in footage and photos of high-seas navy exercises released on Thursday.
Without specifying when the exercises took place, the People’s Liberation Army Navy said the drills were the first time two of the country’s aircraft carriers – the Liaoning and the Shandong – had been involved in a joint exercise on the high seas.
Along with an escort fleet, the carriers were accompanied by at least 32 J-15s, China’s carrier-based fighters.
Andreas Rupprecht, a Germany-based China military aviation analyst, said that at least nine of the 12 airborne fighters in the images were J-15Bs.
“I must admit I’m still more than excited to see the [J-15Bs] finally in service and I cannot wait to see better images of it,” Rupprecht said.
“But there is one downside. It seems that the J-15Bs still use the old AL-31F [engines],” he said, rather than the domestically produced WS-10 turbofans, which have reportedly been tested.
Rupprecht said the J-15B had a new active electronically scanned array radar, advanced air-to-air missiles, upgraded avionics, and a cockpit tailored for carrier operations. It was also equipped for catapult launches – a more advanced form of launch system than ski-jump carrier decks.


The J-15Bs were “the pinnacle of Chinese flanker development”, and had advances that Russia did not achieve with its Su-27K/Su-33 models, he said. Flanker aircraft are designed for exceptional manoeuvrability.
He said this variant would be a cornerstone of China’s naval air power for years, comparable to the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Two of the aircraft on the Shandong also appeared to be J-15Ds, a variant designed to interfere with enemy radar and missile systems, he said.
The J-15D, first showcased by state broadcaster CCTV in March 2024, features advanced electronic countermeasures and reconnaissance tools.
According to Pentagon reports, the aircraft is a big boost to the combat power of China’s aircraft carriers, equipping them to carry out long-range anti-ship and ground attacks while improving their defensive and offensive electronic warfare capabilities.
Military commentator and former PLA instructor Song Zhongping said the aircraft had evolved to expand the military’s mission range.
“Like the US F-16, which has evolved through numerous versions – more than 70 production batches now – the development of multiple variants in Chinese fighter jets is aimed at building versatile, multi-role combat capabilities,” Song said.
“It’s natural for a leading military power to advance its military equipment in this way, and the J-15 is no exception.”
Citing the Pentagon, the US Congressional Research Service said in a report in January that the PLA Navy would be the biggest in the world by 2030, with an overall battle force of 435 ships, and a substantial increase in “major surface combatants”.


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Military analyst says J-15Bs seen airborne in official images, suggesting planes have entered service


Military analyst says J-15Bs seen airborne in official images, suggesting planes have entered service.


Updated Chinese J-15 fighter jet spotted in aircraft carrier drill footage

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Military analyst says J-15Bs seen airborne in official images, suggesting planes have entered service

Military analyst says J-15Bs seen airborne in official images, suggesting planes have entered service