The People’s Liberation Army Navy has equipped its carrier-based aircraft J-15 with electronic warfare pods in an attempt to develop a new electronic warfare aircraft. However, there had been no information revealed about it until recently when CCTV openly reported on this electronically enhanced variant of the J-15 developed for carrier-based operations, effectively making it an official announcement. According to CCTV, this electronic warfare aircraft, named J-15D, has already entered service and is expected to appear on the decks of Fujian aircraft carrier soon.
Before CCTV’s exposure of the J-15D, the People’s Liberation Army had only one expensive electronic warfare aircraft, the J-16D. However, as the J-16 does not have a carrier-based version, there was a gap in China’s carrier-based aircraft lineup. The J-15D fills this void.
Based on footage revealed by CCTV and China Global Television Network (CGTN), the carrier-based J-15D electronic warfare version is equipped with pods similar to those seen on the J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. Reports suggest that following the concept of a fighter aircraft also serving as an electronic warfare platform, the J-15D, as a heavy twin-engine fighter, is akin to the U.S. Navy’s E/A-18 Growler, and it offers more versatility than the J-35 as it can carry more air-to-air and air-to-sea/ground munitions.
Reports introduce the J-15D as the third electronic warfare platform in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, developed based on the Russian-made Su-33 carrier-based fighter. While the electronic warfare version of the J-15 is still undergoing testing, it’s unclear whether it’s slated for mass production.
Tencent News reports that the primary reason for upgrading the J-15 into an electronic warfare aircraft is because the J-15 was originally developed as a carrier-based aircraft, boasting highly mature carrier-related configurations. By adding electronic warfare capabilities, it seamlessly integrates with carriers without the need for dedicated flight testing.
Furthermore, reports mention that aside from the extensive use of composite materials in its fuselage, the J-15D’s electronic pods have been miniaturized and mounted on the wingtips, with several dedicated new electromagnetic signal collection and countermeasure antennas added to various parts of the aircraft. “The electronic pods resemble two missile-shaped mounts on the wingtips, making them absolutely unique in the world. Researchers dared to miniaturize these pods because of their confidence in the electronic warfare performance,” according to a source.
Due to its reliance on its own power, the J-15D struggles with ski-jump takeoffs on the Liaoning or Shandong carrier. Therefore, analysts suggest that the “Fujian” carrier with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) would be better suited for this versatile aircraft with air-to-sea strike and electronic warfare capabilities.