China is testing a new stealth fighter jet, the J-35, for deployment on its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, according to reports from official media. Unlike China’s previous two carriers, which use ski-jump ramps, the Fujian is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system. Earlier this year, the new warplane was tested on the Liaoning, Chinas first aircraft carrier, which was originally a Soviet-era ship. This has fueled speculation that the J-35 could be Chinas next-generation carrier-borne stealth fighter. Currently, China operates two aircraft carriers: the Liaoning and the Shandong, which was indigenously built and commissioned in 2019.

The third carrier, Fujian, is larger than its predecessors with a displacement of 80,000 tons and is undergoing trials. Its described as Chinas first fully domestically developed and constructed aircraft carrier featuring an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), similar to the U.S. Navys USS Gerald R. Ford. While the Liaoning and Shandong use ski-jump take-off ramps, the Fujian has a flat-top flight deck.

Chinas carrier fleet currently utilizes the J-15 aircraft, but the J-35 is expected to enhance its capabilities. Experts cited by the Global Times indicate that China now has a new carrier-borne aircraft ready for service, which could be operational on all three carriers. The J-35, developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, is Chinas second fifth-generation fighter jet after the J-20. It is seen as Chinas equivalent to the U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35 and is still in the development and prototype phase. According to Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, the Liaoning is serving as a test bed for the J-35 to assess its viability as a carrier-based fighter jet.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Wikipedia.