CV-18 Fujian/003 CATOBAR carrier thread

[Blitzo]

Ok, you are right, there are different versions J-15D. But given the inevitably low total production of the J-15D, I strongly doubt that the Chinese Navy would be willing to differentiate between the different versions in actual operations. Maybe continue to observe…

No, it's not that "there are different versions of J-15D".

Right now, there is only one variant of J-15D which is confirmed -- it is STOBAR compatible only. It may have entered production in small numbers.

In the future, we should expect a CATOBAR compatible variant of J-15D to emerge, as we are seeing its mockup on CV-18. A potential future CATOBAR J-15D variant will likely aim to be compatible with both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers, and likely succeed the current small number of J-15Ds in production and service.

 

[Deino]

Here a slightly larger even if not really much better version of the same image ... and in comparison to the one posted yesterday, some mock-ups have been rearranged!

So would be interesting to know which one is the more recent one?

 

[sheogorath]

In the future, we should expect a CATOBAR compatible variant of J-15D to emerge, as we are seeing its mockup on CV-18. A potential future CATOBAR J-15D variant will likely aim to be compatible with both CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers, and likely succeed the current small number of J-15Ds in production and service.

What are the chances that one of the existing pictures of J-15T from below, where the cockpit shape isn't visible, might have actually been a J-15D CATOBAR variant?

 

[lcloo]

Here a slightly larger even if not really much better version of the same image ... and in comparison to the one posted yesterday, some mock-ups have been rearranged!

So would be interesting to know which one is the more recent one?

View attachment 128212View attachment 128213

I think they are doing the onboard tests on moving/ removing, positioning and fastening different types of aircraft on top deck. They should be doing the same tests inside the hangar as well.

Now let's wait to see if there will be a small oiler ship tranfering fuel oil to Fujian in next few weeks.

 

[Blitzo]

What are the chances that one of the existing pictures of J-15T from below, where the cockpit shape isn't visible, might have actually been a J-15D CATOBAR variant?

If you mean "J-15B" rather than "J-15T," well there's basically no reason to entertain that idea.

Like sure the possibility technically is above zero, but the whole reason for us to wait for pictures (or at least rumours) of a prospective CATOBAR J-15D is so that we have some basis to say "it exists" rather than merely "we can't rule out that it doesn't exist".


Minimum threshold for confirming a CATOBAR J-15D would be to have a picture or a set of pictures showing a CATOBAR J-15 airframe (i.e.: with catapult nosegear) and having the J-15D's wingtip ESM pods installed (which could be a picture taken of the ventral side only in theory). Even more concrete would be having a CATOBAR J-15 airframe showing nosegear visible, with wingtip ESM pods, as well as the tandem twin seat cockpit.

 

[by78]

Self-explanatory.

 

[Blitzo]

Self-explanatory.

This is one of the clearest photos which definitively confirms beyond any doubt that the H/PJ-11 CIWS uses the new rectangular radar.

 

[supersnoop]

This is one of the clearest photos which definitively confirms beyond any doubt that the H/PJ-11 CIWS uses the new rectangular radar.

Were there doubts? I heard some people call them "mockups" but that was random conjecture.

 

[Blitzo]

Were there doubts? I heard some people call them "mockups" but that was random conjecture.

There were certainly a few holdouts, and for PLA watching whenever we see new things it is always better to have something as close as definitive confirmation as possible to reduce wriggle room.

Previously people could argue "it may have been mockups" or "the photos aren't clear enough during fitting out to confirm if they're definitely using the new radar" -- but this photo is sufficiently clear enough and of sufficient progression in the ship's fitting out, that we can have significant confidence that we're seeing the legit article.

 

[asif iqbal]

seems like China is now full throttle ahead with its flat deck carrier program for CATOBAR

not only are we looking at a brand new carrier we are also looking at brand new era of air operations

the KJ600, never J15 and J35 aircraft

this puts China into a league of its own and it will be a good few years before we see the combination flying

and I clearly remember when the black smoke first came out of the funnels of the CV16 little over a decade ago, engined fired up for the first time

then came the black tyre marks on the deck after its sea trials showing that touch and go had occurred

how times have changed for PLAN