J-15 is the first carrier-based fighter aircraft independently developed and produced by China. It was due to the J-15 that the Chinese Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier could quickly conduct carrier-based aircraft operations after its commissioning, allowing the Chinese Navy to achieve the integration of aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft in a short period of time, greatly promoting the development of the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier forces.

J-15 Fighter

Why did China choose to develop a heavy carrier-based fighter from the beginning? Mainly because heavy carrier-based fighters have stronger capabilities. In fact, China could have chosen a medium carrier-based fighter. For example, Russia has not only the Su-33 carrier-based fighter, but also the MiG-29K carrier-based fighter. However, if we choose the MiG-29K, although it can allow the aircraft carrier to carry more planes, the overall performance of the MiG-29K is significantly different from that of the Su-33.

The Liaoning aircraft carrier is a 60,000-ton class aircraft carrier. If it carries the medium carrier-based fighter MiG-29K, the number of aircraft may be higher, but the effect is not significant. By comparison, the Su-33 as a heavy carrier-based fighter has a more obvious performance advantage. It not only compensates for the disadvantage in the number of aircraft carried by the aircraft carrier with the quality advantage, but also further expands the air superiority range and maritime strike range. In addition, the structure of the Su-33 is very similar to the Su-27 and the J-11, which China has already introduced and imitated. Therefore, China can use the experience and related equipment of the Su-27 and J-11 in operation and maintenance, which not only saves costs, but also accelerates the familiarization process, and quickly forms combat capability. Therefore, the Chinese Navy finally decided to develop a heavy carrier-based fighter.

Like other major equipment development projects, the development of the J-15 also adopted a "two legs walking" model, that is, combining the introduction and independent research and development. In terms of introduction, it is to purchase the Su-33 from Russia, while the independent research and development is to develop a heavy carrier-based fighter similar to the Su-33 with domestic resources. The reason for choosing the "two legs walking" is to ensure stability and prevent problems with the aircraft carrier and carrier-based aircraft.

Su-33 Fighter

However, when China expressed its desire to purchase a small number of Su-33s, the Russian response made China very dissatisfied. First, Russia was not satisfied with the number of aircraft China proposed to purchase, believing that if the number was not increased to around 20, the possibility of continuing negotiations would be small. Second, although Russia had the production capacity for the Su-27 series of fighter jets, the production line for the Su-33 had been closed after completing the production task of 24 units in 1993, and Russia at that time did not have the ability to produce new Su-33s for China.

China Abandons the Purchase of Su-33

Therefore, Russia proposed to rebuild the production line for 1.5 billion US dollars and produce 20 Su-33s for China. This price was obviously not acceptable to China, so China finally decided to give up the purchase of Su-33 and fully invest in independent research and development. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation successfully developed the J-15 heavy carrier-based fighter through the acquisition of one T-10 Su-33 prototype and the experience of independently developing the J-11B. In June 2009, the J-15 successfully completed its maiden flight.

During the development of the J-15, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation broke through a series of technical challenges such as titanium alloy processing, composite material application, folding wing design, avionics system integration, and redundant digital fly-by-wire control system. To accelerate the development progress, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation produced 8 prototype aircraft, which were used for flight, structural, radar fire control, weapons, and other tests. Because of the large number of prototypes and solid design foundation, the J-15 progressed smoothly.

On November 23, 2012, the J-15 prototype numbered 552 successfully completed its first takeoff and landing on the Liaoning aircraft carrier, marking the transformation of the Chinese Navy's aviation forces from land-based to sea-based, entering a new stage, and breaking the Western countries' false statement that "even if China has an aircraft carrier, it cannot complete the takeoff and landing of carrier-based aircraft within a year." This move made China the fourth country in the world with the ability to independently design and produce modern carrier-based fighter aircraft. Around 2014, the mass-produced J-15 with a new gray camouflage appeared on the Liaoning aircraft carrier, marking the official entry of the J-15 into mass production.

Although the J-15 is similar in aerodynamic shape to the Su-33, it has great improvements in overall performance and technological level. First, in terms of body materials and manufacturing processes, the J-15 has undergone a comprehensive update. Especially the mass-produced J-15, which uses a new generation of aluminum-lithium alloys, composite materials, and advanced manufacturing processes, thus, compared to the Su-33, which uses ordinary aviation materials and outdated technology, the basic structural weight of the J-15 is significantly reduced, greatly improving flight performance and increasing the service life of the airframe.

Second, the J-15 is equipped with a new airborne radar and aviation electronic equipment. Its airborne pulse Doppler radar uses a flat plate slot antenna and advanced electronic manufacturing technology, which is a qualitative leap from the Cassegrain antenna and a large number of vacuum tube technology of the Su-33. The weight of the J-15 radar is less than one-third of the Su-33 radar, and its detection performance has also been significantly improved, with an aerial detection distance exceeding 150 kilometers, and the ability to track 12 targets simultaneously and attack 4 of them.

The J-15 also uses the 1553B type data bus commonly used in Western fighter jets, which greatly enhances the integration and expandability of the onboard detection system, external suspension management system, cockpit display system, navigation system, data computer, communication system, and electronic warfare system.

In addition, the J-15 can use various domestically produced air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-ship missiles under the guidance of advanced radar to perform various combat missions such as air defense, ground attack, anti-radiation, and anti-ship, which is incomparable to the Su-33.

In terms of engine, the prototype and early production models of the J-15 use the Russian AL-31F turbofan engine. This decision was based on the actual situation at the time to ensure that the Liaoning aircraft carrier's progress was not delayed. However, since 2022, the J-15 has started to be equipped with the domestically produced turbofan-10 engine, marking that the production of the J-15 no longer depends on external technology and has entered a stage of autonomous control.

Chinese Carrier-Based Fighter J-15

With excellent platform performance, powerful airborne firepower, and a complete radar and avionics system, the J-15 has become the only currently operational and high-performance heavy carrier-based fighter in the world. From an overall performance perspective, it is slightly inferior to the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" and the French Navy's "Rafale" M.

After possessing the J-15, the Chinese Navy's Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers have acquired full combat capabilities. Two ski-jump aircraft carriers can carry the J-15 to perform fleet air defense, ground and maritime attacks, and aerial refueling tasks, enabling the Chinese Navy to possess independent air and sea combat capabilities beyond the range of land-based aviation forces. The J-15 not only meets the daily needs of land-based personnel training and land-based basic training, but also makes a significant contribution to the development of the Chinese Navy's aircraft carrier cause.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7544012861610181135/

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