manqiangrexue
Brigadier
I think those are regular J-15s with a fuel/buddy pod. 2 J-15s can launch from one carrier; 1 with the buddy pod and 1 with heavy ordinance and low fuel. In mid-air, the one with the pod will refuel the one with the heavy weapons load so it can continue on to a mission requiring both high weapons and fuel load while the refueler will just return to the carrier. This is a pic of one of those pods, although not on the J-15 and not the same pod:Thanks for posting by78. Excellent choice of photos..Does anyone know how many J-15 tankers does the PLAN have? Thanks. Are the tankers shore based? How can they launch from the ship with a "full bag of gas" without a catapult?