J-15 "Flying Shark", after becoming the main carrier-based aircraft of the Chinese Navy, has always been the focus of heated discussions outside the military regarding its combat capability compared to the US Navy's F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet". After all, before stealth carrier-based aircraft are fully deployed, these two types of carrier-based aircraft are currently the main players.

Recently, CCTV rarely released images showing both aircraft side by side for the first time. It seems that there may have been quite a few face-to-face confrontations between Chinese and American carriers, but only now is this iceberg beginning to show its tip.

(US F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" filmed from the cockpit of J-15)

From the content disclosed by CCTV, this was a relatively low-intensity accompanying flight monitoring task. The J-15 pilot captured the side view of the US "Super Hornet" inside the cockpit, at least from the perspective of the footage, both planes appeared to be in stable flight. Of course, whether it was smooth flying or both parties were in a stable state when they met might only be temporary. During the Cold War, even the US Naval Aviation had no comparable rivals on the high seas. The short take-off/vertical landing carrier-based aircraft series of the Soviet Navy, such as the Yak series, could not compare with the US Navy's F-14 "Tomcat". By the time the Su-33 series became operational, the Soviet Union was already on its last legs, leaving the "Super Hornet" to stand alone.

So encountering China's naval J-15 can be considered the biggest challenge faced by US Navy carrier-based fighter pilots in decades. If we do not consider other conditions and look only at the two carrier-based aircraft themselves, it can be said that they are evenly matched. The advantage of J-15 lies in its superior air combat performance. Its three-surface layout brings excellent low-speed controllability and large angle-of-attack performance, and its maximum speed of 2.4 Mach is more suitable for interception and high-speed penetration missions than the "Super Hornet's" 1.8 Mach. Additionally, the operational radius of J-15 is also higher; if equipped with a buddy refueling system, its range can be further extended, which essentially increases the fleet's air defense zone.

(The technical origin of J-15 is similar to that of Su-33, but internally they are completely different)

The disadvantage is that its radar and avionics systems are not advanced enough. The early Type 1493 was a mechanical scan pulse Doppler radar, with inferior detection distance, anti-interference capability, and multi-target processing ability compared to the AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar of the "Super Hornet". However, in recent years, with the development of domestic AESA, it has basically caught up with or even surpassed American equipment. For example, the KLJ-7A's technology level can rival that of the F-35's AN/APG-81. In the future, the single aircraft situational awareness capability of the catapult version of J-15 will not be much worse than that of the "Super Hornet".

Furthermore, the ski jump deck of Liaoning and Shandong limits the J-15's payload, generally only 4 to 6 tons; the standard AL-31F engine's lifespan is also less than that of the F414-GE-400; and the Chinese Navy lacks experience in carrier-based aircraft operation and operation history compared to the US Navy, which has been using aircraft carriers for over a hundred years.

Luckily, none of these issues are insurmountable. Fujian and subsequent aircraft carriers are straight-deck designs, so the issue of restricted payload will not occur again; AL-31F will gradually be replaced by the WS-10 series, with significantly increased thrust and lifespan; as for experience, there is no shortcut - it can only be accumulated step by step through the resilience and tenacity of the PLA. A century-long navy must start with every small step.

(The "Super Hornet" has been in service for over 30 years, accumulating experiences that J-15 cannot match)

The advantages of the "Super Hornet" lie in its radar and sensors. The AN/APG-79 can simultaneously track 30 targets and engage six of them, and the number may increase with software upgrades; the integration of the 16 data link with the NIFC-CA collaborative engagement system allows network-centric warfare to achieve beyond visual range collaborative operations; steam catapults ensure that the "Super Hornet" can take off with full fuel and ammunition, although its operational radius is around 700 kilometers, the straight deck and mature deck handling operations guarantee an average daily sortie rate of over 100 sorties per ship; most importantly, having been in service for over 30 years, the "Super Hornet" has participated in multiple local wars, though it fought against countries like Iraq and Libya, which are relatively insignificant, it still holds considerable value in testing long-range precision strikes.

Its disadvantages lie in its maneuverability, which is difficult to describe as outstanding due to the compromise between low-speed takeoff and high-speed maneuverability. Its maximum speed of 1.8 Mach and ceiling of 15,000 meters are inferior to those of the J-15. The most significant issue lies in its onboard armament. The PL-15 of the J-15 has a range exceeding 200 kilometers, conservatively estimated at over 150 kilometers, while the AIM-120 series of the US has a range of approximately 120 to 140 kilometers, with the latest D-type possibly reaching 180 kilometers.

(J-15 is also developing catapult and electronic warfare variants)

However, China is also developing longer-range, more interference-resistant very long-range air-to-air missiles like the PL-17, which, if eventually mounted on the J-15, would further amplify the disadvantages of the "Super Hornet", potentially accelerating its retirement process and being replaced by the F-35C. Therefore, the US has been vigorously developing very long-range air-to-air missiles in recent years. Unfortunately, aside from the AIM-174, which is a hybrid monster, the truly usable AIM-260 remains unseen and its actual performance is questionable.

In fact, the "Super Hornet" is now in a very awkward position. Firstly, after the PLA establishes an anti-access/area-denial combat circle, traditional carrier strike groups using carrier-based aircraft as their main fighting force not only struggle to exert any significant power but also face major survival challenges. Even in deep ocean sea control, with the emergence of the 055 and the Yingji-21 duo, it marks that carrier-based aircraft can no longer continue to serve as the main force for fleet sea and air operations as they did during World War II; even with the advent of ultra-long-range surface-to-air missiles, carrier-based aircraft no longer need to form the outermost perimeter of the fleet's air defense circle as they used to, making the "Super Hornet" increasingly redundant.

(The standoff between the main carrier-based aircraft of China and the US is not just once or twice, and the transition from offense to defense is just a matter of time)

Of course, it does not mean that carrier-based aircraft have no place. However, concentrating a large amount of resources on fourth-generation carrier-based aircraft, as the US Navy does, may not yield the desired results in the future. Moreover, China is also advancing the development of fifth-generation and even sixth-generation carrier-based aircraft. Perhaps in not too long, the "Super Hornet" will truly become a burden.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493448748438323752/

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