Recently, within the shipyard of Changxing Island, Fujian carrier was clearly captured testing two red cars for electromagnetic ejection simultaneously. Additionally, at the rear end of the deck, an aircraft resembling the J-35 has been observed on board, prepared to participate in the testing.
Fujian carrier, which has been afloat for over a year and a half, has recently been active, becoming a popular observation point for air travel passengers between Shanghai and Changxing Island. Photos of the Fujian ship taken by passengers revealed not only the ongoing testing of electromagnetic ejection with the red cars but also the presence of a smaller aircraft on the deck, believed to be the J-35 fighter, according to analysts. In the short term, other significant roles are expected to be seen, possibly including the KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft, Z-20 utility helicopter, J-15 carrier-based fighter, and several types of unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to a report from Chinese media Tencent, after the unexpected electromagnetic ejection test of the red cars, various new photos of Fujian ship’s tests have been circulating on social media. A notable aircraft has been added recently, initially appearing triangular in low-resolution photos, but clearer images later confirmed it to be the J-35 stealth fighter.
In addition, red cars for testing also appeared on catapults 2 and 3. As the testing progresses, it is possible that all three catapults are scheduled for simultaneous red car ejection tests. Currently confirmed on the deck of the Fujian ship is a full-size model of the J-35, giving the impression that the deck is quite large. Previously, when a J-15 was parked on the Shandong or Liaoning carriers, it occupied a significant portion of the deck. Now, with the twin-engine J-35 on board, the aircraft appears smaller, and it is speculated that the deck could accommodate more than 20 of them.
In comparison, the Fujian ship, with a displacement of nearly 80,000 tons, can indeed accommodate more carrier-based aircraft. Although it falls short of the 100,000 tons of U.S. aircraft carriers, the deck area is comparable.
The report mentioned that U.S. aircraft carrier catapult testing is divided into three stages: air load testing, static load testing, and actual aircraft testing. Particularly, about a year after static load testing, actual aircraft catapult testing can take place. However, the People’s Liberation Army has its own approach, and as various tests unfold, it will bring a fresh perspective to observers.
This time, the first aircraft to be tested on board is not the J-15 but the J-35 stealth fighter. Analysts suggest this choice might be related to the need for improvements and upgrades to the originally designed ski-jump version of the J-15T, which is currently undergoing ground testing. The J-35 prototype is derived from the FC-31 Gyrfalcon. Although it first flew over a decade ago, it has remained in the development and improvement stage, not yet being inducted into service. Being the first carrier-based stealth fighter, it requires careful and cautious testing.
The report mentioned that other aircraft models that need to be tested on board include the KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft and the Z-20 utility helicopter. The Z-20 has already been extensively deployed in the Air Force, Army Aviation, and the People’s Armed Police. Transitioning from land-based to carrier-based operations is relatively less challenging. However, the KJ-600, as the strongest guarantee of carrier battle capability and a fixed-wing heavy special mission aircraft, although it has undergone extensive testing on land, it is crucial to conduct necessary simulations and scheduling when boarding the carrier. Therefore, it is likely to be the second carrier-based aircraft tested after the J-35.
Regarding unmanned aerial vehicles, their takeoff and landing on the carrier are relatively easier, possibly scheduled after the J-15T and Z-20, making the sea trial tasks quite demanding.