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.
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.
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 and the U.S. F/A-18 Hornet, it lacks the stealth capabilities required for future naval engagements, especially against stealth-equipped adversaries.” He emphasized that the J-35, with its stealth features and advanced air-sea combat capabilities, would complement the J-15, similar to how the U.S. Navy employs both the F/A-18 and the F-35.
“The J-35’s biggest advantage is its stealth capability,” Song continued, “allowing it to challenge stealth-equipped fleets in the region and support China’s naval operations. Together with the J-15, it will create a more formidable shield for carrier strike groups.”
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.