Beijing, July 21 - The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has officially confirmed the integration of the Shenyang J-35, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, into its carrier-based aviation fleet, marking a significant advancement in China's naval capabilities. This development, announced in July 2025, underscores China's ambition to establish a formidable blue-water navy capable of projecting power across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The J-35, a carrier-optimized derivative of the FC-31, is designed to operate from the PLAN's aircraft carriers, including the Type 003 Fujian, which features advanced electromagnetic catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) systems. This milestone positions China as the second nation, after the United States, to deploy stealth fighters on aircraft carriers, significantly enhancing its maritime air power.
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The J-35 is a twin-engine, low-observable aircraft developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It incorporates advanced stealth technology, including a low-radar-cross-section airframe, optimized engine inlets, and serrated nozzle designs on its WS-13E turbofan engines, with plans to transition to the more powerful WS-19 engines in future models. The aircraft is equipped with folding wings, reinforced landing gear, and a tailhook, making it suitable for carrier operations. These features enable the J-35 to perform catapult launches and arrested landings, a leap forward from the ski-jump systems of China's earlier carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong. The J-35's design also includes advanced avionics, such as active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), enhancing its situational awareness and multirole capabilities for air superiority, precision strikes, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
The integration of the J-35 into the PLAN's fleet follows years of development and testing. Prototypes were first spotted in 2021 at land-based carrier simulation facilities, with flight tests intensifying over the subsequent years. By March 2025, reports indicated the J-35 had completed its first electromagnetic catapult launch from the Fujian, a carrier equipped with three electromagnetic catapults and an integrated electric propulsion system. The Fujian, with a displacement of approximately 80,000 tons, is designed to carry up to 48 J-35s, significantly outpacing the capacity of China's older carriers. The Liaoning and Shandong, which rely on ski-jump ramps, may also accommodate modified J-35s, potentially hosting up to 24 each, alongside J-15 fighters adapted for electronic warfare.
This development has strategic implications for the Indo-Pacific region. The J-35's deployment enhances the PLAN's ability to conduct long-range operations, challenging the dominance of U.S. carrier strike groups, which rely on the F-35C. While the J-35's stealth and sensor fusion capabilities may not yet match those of the F-35C, China's rapid production rate, estimated at 50 aircraft annually, suggests a closing technological gap. By 2030, the PLAN could operate nearly 100 carrier-based stealth fighters, supported by advanced platforms like the KJ-600 airborne early warning aircraft and GJ-11 unmanned combat aerial vehicles. However, challenges remain, including integrating complex systems, pilot training for carrier operations, and maintaining stealth materials in maritime environments. The J-35's deployment signals China's intent to assert itself as a global maritime power, reshaping the regional security landscape and prompting responses from nations like Japan, South Korea, and India, which may accelerate their own naval modernization efforts.