PLA Navy inducts missile capable J-15D

The J-15D, the People's Liberation Army Navy's first carrier-borne electronic warfare jet, has been deployed on the CNS Shandong aircraft carrier, according to the Navy.

In a video clip published on Tuesday by the Navy about the Shandong, several J-15Ds were seen on the deck or taking off, marking the formal deployment of the new aircraft model.

Tuesday marked the fifth anniversary of the Shandong's commissioning.

The J-15D was declassified in November when it was sent to make the public debut at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

According to the Navy, the new model is a twin-seat variant of the J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet and is specifically tasked with electronic jamming and countermeasures with its electronic warfare pods. It can also carry missiles for airstrikes or aerial battle operations.

The J-15D's service will play an important role in a carrier strike group's fight for air superiority, the Navy said.

Like its predecessor the CNS Liaoning, the Shandong had no dedicated electronic warfare jet before the J-15D's commissioning, which substantially restricted the operational capability of its strike group, especially the aviation units deployed on it.

In another clip published by the Navy, a total of 12 J-15s took off from the Shandong in a row, displaying what is likely the maximum takeoff support capacity of the carrier in a single strike wave.

The Shandong — China's second aircraft carrier and the first wholly designed and built in the country — displaces at least 50,000 metric tons of water. Commissioned in December 2019 to the South Sea Fleet, it is now the largest and most sophisticated naval ship in service in the PLA Navy.

China has built a third aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian, which displaces more than 80,000 tons of water and uses an electromagnetic launch system or electromagnetic catapult to launch fixed-wing aircraft.

Compared with the Liaoning and the Shandong, the Fujian is much bigger and has a larger flight deck, boasting mightier prowess. It is now in the sea trial stage and is expected to be commissioned in the near future.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn