Beijing, July 15 - China has initiated serial production of its advanced J-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, specifically designed for deployment on the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, marking a significant advancement in its naval aviation capabilities. This development, reported by multiple defense and military news outlets, signals China’s accelerating push to establish a formidable blue-water navy capable of projecting power across the Indo-Pacific region. The J-35, a carrier-based variant of the Shenyang FC-31, is engineered to operate from the Fujian, China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, which features cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) systems. This technological leap enhances China’s ability to launch heavier and more sophisticated aircraft, positioning it as a direct competitor to the United States, currently the only other nation operating fifth-generation stealth fighters from CATOBAR carriers.
.gif)
The Fujian, displacing an estimated 80,000 to 85,000 tons, represents a significant evolution over China’s earlier ski-jump carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong. Equipped with three electromagnetic catapults powered by a medium-voltage direct current integrated electric propulsion system, the Fujian offers launch efficiency reportedly 30% higher than the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class carriers. This capability allows the carrier to support an air wing of up to 48 J-35 fighters, alongside other aircraft such as the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform and potentially the GJ-11 unmanned combat air vehicle. The J-35 itself is designed with advanced stealth characteristics, networked sensor fusion, and modern avionics, enabling it to conduct long-range precision strikes, maintain air superiority, and perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in contested maritime environments. Its features, including folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and a tailhook, are tailored for the rigors of carrier operations, ensuring compatibility with the Fujian’s advanced launch and recovery systems.
The strategic implications of this development are profound for the Indo-Pacific region. The integration of the J-35 into the Fujian’s operations significantly extends the PLAN’s operational reach, allowing China to project air power far beyond its coastal waters. This capability strengthens China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy, aimed at deterring foreign military intervention in critical maritime zones such as the South China Sea. The J-35’s stealth profile and ability to operate in high-threat environments pose a challenge to regional air and missile defense networks, potentially shifting the balance of power. For instance, the aircraft’s onboard sensors could integrate with China’s long-range detection and targeting systems, guiding hypersonic anti-ship weapons like the DF-ZF against adversarial naval assets, including U.S. carrier strike groups.
However, challenges remain for China’s carrier aviation program. The PLAN’s relative inexperience in complex carrier operations, coupled with the need for extensive pilot training and maintenance of sophisticated stealth materials, could delay full operational capability. Additionally, while Fujian’s advanced systems mark a technological milestone, the carrier is still undergoing sea trials, with commissioning expected by late 2025. The J-35’s integration also requires further testing, as evidenced by its first electromagnetic catapult launch in March 2025, a critical step toward operational readiness. This development underscores China’s broader military modernization ambitions, particularly its focus on challenging U.S. naval dominance in the Pacific. By deploying a robust carrier strike group equipped with stealth fighters, China enhances its ability to assert control over contested regions, raising concerns among neighboring countries like Japan, South Korea, and India, which are now accelerating their own defense programs. The J-35 and Fujian combination represents a transformative step in China’s quest for regional preeminence, reshaping the Indo-Pacific’s security dynamics and signaling a new era of naval competition.