J-35 carrier fighter (PLAN) thread

[Atomicfrog]

For China's case, the CVWs of future PLAN CVs and CVNs are expected to consist of the following:
- J-XDSH (with AB WS-15 turbofan engines or WS-XX ACE engines);
- J-35 (with AB WS-21/19 turbofan engines);
- J-15D (with AB WS-10 turbofan engines);
- KJ-600 and (notional) KY-200 (with WJ-6 or WJ-10 turboprop engines);
- GJ-11/21 (with non-AB WS-13/21 turbofan engines); and
- Helicopters with their associated turboshaft engines.


The number of aircraft parking slots on aircraft carriers are set and fixed before the carrier enters service. Except during certain perculiar/emergency situations, you won't see CVs and CVNs getting jam-packed.

So yeah, J-15T will probably phase out when J-XDSH come in to CATOBAR carriers. Short lived but necessary for J-15D development. Don't know how much works J-XDSH will take from J-15D after a while. J-35 have it's space in that configuration.

 

[lcloo]

IF the 6th gen catapult capable jets achieve FOC, say around 2032-2035, China would have 4 to 6 aircraft carriers in operations. There is no need to phase out J15T since minimum air frame lives is usually more than 20 years in normal use.

Phasing out an aircraft before their air frame lives become expeire is extremely rare in PLA. We are still seeing aircraft designed in 1950s in active service in China in 2025.

Old aircraft still in service are JJ7, J7, J8, J10A, J11A, SU-27UBK, SU-30MKK/MK2, JH7, Y5, Y7, Y8, K8, Y12, JL6, older variants of H6 and IL-76 (bought second hand and refurbished).

 

[00CuriousObserver]

There will be plenty of carrier operations that don't involve the US, and most of them won't require 6th gens. The J-35 + J-15T combo will remain highly potent

 

[Gloire_bb]

There will be plenty of carrier operations that don't involve the US, and most of them won't require 6th gens. The J-35 + J-15T combo will remain highly potent

I wouldn't view J-15T lower than F-15EX(only starting production) or F-18E/F(juuust ended, so life cycle still ahead).

 

[Tomboy]

IF the 6th gen catapult capable jets achieve FOC, say around 2032-2035, China would have 4 to 6 aircraft carriers in operations. There is no need to phase out J15T since minimum air frame lives is usually more than 20 years in normal use.

Phasing out an aircraft before their air frame lives become expeire is extremely rare in PLA. We are still seeing aircraft designed in 1950s in active service in China in 2025.

Old aircraft still in service are JJ7, J7, J8, J10A, J11A, SU-27UBK, SU-30MKK/MK2, JH7, Y5, Y7, Y8, K8, Y12, JL6, older variants of H6 and IL-76 (bought second hand and refurbished).

PLAN will only get 6 carrier operational by mid 2030s if they decide after the first 004, they will start simultaneously constructing two more.