Check this link out from Janes...it is November 2014.
Janes talks specifically about the design, particularly the forward portion, as being clear evidence that the PLAN was redesigning the J-15 for carrier CATOBAR operations.
...and this one from a Hollilla. Oct 2014:
Yes... and they picture the both refer to (the same one which you posted in #1501 on this page), is merely a mock up, not a real aircraft.
And that is assuming the mock up with the "launch bar" on the nosegear is actually meant to represent a launch bar to begin with, and not merely a tow bar for towing the overall mock up instead.
So like I said, 2014 only showed up with the supposed mock up, and we only saw real pictures of the actual aircraft in early July this year, of a small picture showing the J-15A's nose gear, and it is only the latest pictures from yesterday which show the real aircraft in its entirety.