J-15 carrier fighter thread

[plawolf]

I think we can safely assume at this point that there are 18 or a few more production J-15s available.

For right now, given the training and development the Chinese are still doing for their carrier program, this is probably adequate.

However, the second carrier, 001A, is coming right along. I doubt VERY seriously that she will ever have any kind of catapults. The Chinese have said as much.

So, there will be two STOBAR carriers, each capable of carrying 20 or so J-15s available to the Chinese for the next several decades.

I believe therefore that for training needs, for maintenance, for test, and for equipping those first two ships that the PLAN will probably build no fewer than fifty J-15s for those two carriers.

But, IMHO, there is nothing at that says the CATOBAR capable fighters cannot fly off of the STOBAR decks. In fact, that is probably what will happen.

We may see 24 or more of the initial J-15s followed by the J-15A (which has the CATOBAR capability, AESA, etc.) which could be used on both types.

It is clear to me that the Type 002 carrier will most probably, at this point, be a CATOBAR carrier...probably conventionally powered.

As you rightly pointed out, CATOBAR fighters could operate perfectly well from STOBAR carriers.

However STOBAR fighters would suffer significant performances operating from CATOBAR carriers.

Because of this, it makes the most sense for the PLAN to maximise CATOBAR J15s while minimising STOBAR versions even if 002 cannot be adapted to CATOBAR later.

Given the timeframes involved; how long the J15 has been in production for; Chinese industrial capacity and will, and past form. It is my view that if the PLAN wanted 40-50 STOBAR J15As, they will have them already, or significantly more than what they have now.

Without the recent CATOBAR J15B photo, I might have been inclined to believe they are switching to large batch production and are about to roll an entire regiment's worth out.

But with that, I think they are deliberately holding back from fully commiting to building J15s as they are waiting for the CATOBAR version before they start significantly expanding their fleet.

 

[thunderchief]

As you rightly pointed out, CATOBAR fighters could operate perfectly well from STOBAR carriers.

However STOBAR fighters would suffer significant performances operating from CATOBAR carriers.

CATOBAR and STOBAR fighters are not really interchangeable with today's technology.

CATOBAR fighters like Super Hornet lack sufficiently high thrust-to-weight ratio and low take-off speed to be used from STOBAR ships. Theoretically, they could launch but payload would be low. Also, frequent launches using ski-jump would put additional stress on airframe not designed for that.

STOBAR fighters lack strengthened nose-gear to support "bar" and "shuttle" . As we all know, during catapult launch aircraft is "dragged by the nose ". This means additional weight .

Of course, it would be possible to modify J-15 with stronger nose-gear, but such modification would lessen useful payload when launching from STOBAR carriers. My estimate is a difference in range of couple hundred kilograms, not a small matter. Joint STOBAR-CATOBAR J-15 would likely need more powerful engines and lighter airframe (composites) to be effective.

 

[Jeff Head]

As you rightly pointed out, CATOBAR fighters could operate perfectly well from STOBAR carriers.

However STOBAR fighters would suffer significant performances operating from CATOBAR carriers.

Because of this, it makes the most sense for the PLAN to maximise CATOBAR J15s while minimising STOBAR versions even if 002 cannot be adapted to CATOBAR later. .

I tend to agree.

It would seem likely that they would ensure that their new CATOBAR design was set up to operate from both and then focus on that design going forward as opposed to having a larger and larger batch of STOBAR aircraft that could not operate off of the coming CATOBAR carriers.

We shall see...for one thing is certain...time will most assuredly tell.

 

[bd popeye]

Does the Chinese has a navalized J-10 project in the pipeline?

Oh back about 10+ years or more ago fan boi's made a model of a navalized J-10.

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And this forum has a short but very old thread about a navalized J-10 from back when fan boi's ruled the planet..SDF in 2007..

J-10 carrier version revealed

 

[AssassinsMace]

Some nice big pics.

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[Jeff Head]

New favorite pics of J-15s on deck on the Liaoning:

 

[Jeff Head]

...more:

 

[delft]

From the numbers mentioned it seems one batch of J-15's was built. The plant will not have been idle however because there are J-16's to be built.

 

[vesicles]

The CV-16 with 8 J-15's onboard looks so awesome!

Before this, every time I see a photo of the carrier, it had an empty deck. It looked so sad and lonely... Now it looks like a cool party going on deck. So exciting! I can't stop looking at the new photos. Can't wait for the time when they pack the whole deck with the J-15's!

 

[Deino]

From the numbers mentioned it seems one batch of J-15's was built. The plant will not have been idle however because there are J-16's to be built.

No ... We know for sure that there are already a few batch 2 aircrafts. But i don't know how many by now.