Despite their best effort at censorship it looks like we have definitive proof that J-35 has been launched off Fujian.
J-35 carrier fighter (PLAN) thread
- Thread starter Deino
- Start date
I wouldn't call that definitive proof
First, I'm not fully confident that is a J-35.
Second, even if it is a J-35 it could reflect something like a touch and go rather than a catapult launch.
I'm strongly averse to using terms like "definitive proof" unless they really fill the title.
I.e. if all other possibilities are exhausted.
Heck in this case I wouldn't even say it is circumstantial proof of a catapult launch given it may just be a touch and go.
It is screen caped from deck operations. Confidence is high.
If you are basing your statement of the weibo user due to their statement, then that is fine, but you should really add that as part of your picture post.
The way it reads at the moment is that you are suggesting the picture itself is definitive proof rather than relaying the additional opinion of someone from Weibo with a track record.
That said, even with the opinion from Weibo, I would not call it definitive evidence as you described it.
At best, saying "it is the opinion that this reflects a catapult launch, though acknowledging the picture doesn't show decisively that it can only be a catapult launch" would be more accurate.
It's better to be accurate and coach things in nuance with all the conditionals it deserves, rather than exaggerate.
Not only as a matter of principle, but also because it saves all of us some time and thread space.
That's not the point.
It is already accepted based off credible rumours from the usual sources that it has happened.
I personally consider it to have already happened.
However, "definitive proof" is something else entirely, and should be viewed as proof which is not able to be denied by any observer no matter their degree of PLA watching fluency or skepticism.
Consider j-15 on shandong also have 2 digit numbering, even the ones without red stripes, which presumably means they are not going to be involved in the parade. Maybe those are the actual bort numbers.
It is also possible that out of all the planes with different numbers, PLAN picked their favorites to send to the parade. Or PLAN use meaningful numbers first when they get new planes.
IMO the numbers are true “tactical” numbers, it is also possible they are chosen to commemorate historical dates. I wonder what happens when there are more than 100 carrier fighters in service.
Where should there be something that looks like a J-35 even in this larger version?? What part of a J-35 should this be?
lcloo
Major
J15 and J15DH have already taken the numbers 80 and 93. We can assume these numbers from 01 to 95 or more are for J15 series, meanining at least 95 J15s (all variants) are in service.
J35 is either has just enter low rate production or about to start, thus it is not possible for 80th and 93th J35 to be in service at this time. Even if we assume that the first J35 in PLAN service starts from #80, it is highly unlikely to have 14th in-service J35 (i.e. #93) at this moment.
