중국해군 최초의 항모인 랴오닝이 최근 개량을 마쳤는데 J-35의 목업을 갑판에 탑재한 사진이 공개됐습니다. J-35가 EMALS를 탑재한 푸젠함 뿐만 아니라 스키점프대를 장비한 랴오닝과 산둥에도 운용 가능하다고 밝혔네요. J-35가 공중우위 및 장거리 침투, J-15가 많은 탑재량을 살린 대함 및 대지상 공격 임무를 수행할 것으로 보인다고.
J-35를 탑재해 랴오닝과 산둥의 능력이 영국이나 프랑스, 일본의 항모를 뛰어넘었다고 평가하네요.
According to information published by Global Times on February 19, 2024, China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is on the verge of completing a significant upgrade, with recent reports revealing the presence of a stealth fighter jet mockup, identified as the J-35, on its deck. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
Chinese PLA Navy's aircraft carrier Liaoning. (Picture source: China MoD)
This development indicates that China's advanced carrier-based fighter jet will not only be deployed on the new, catapult-equipped Fujian carrier but also on the ramp-assisted Liaoning and Shandong carriers.
This move indicates a strategic endeavor by China to close the technological and operational gap between its naval aviation capabilities and those of the leading naval powers, particularly the United States.
Despite the extensive work, external modifications to the Liaoning appear minimal. The focus of the upgrade has been on internal enhancements, including support for new aircraft types and advancements in command and control systems.
This extensive maintenance period, surpassing the typical duration, suggests a comprehensive upgrade beyond regular upkeep. The testing of both the J-35 and the J-15 models on the Liaoning's deck highlights a strategic diversification in the carrier's aircraft lineup.
The J-35 is poised to take on roles requiring air superiority and deep penetration into enemy defenses, while the J-15 continues to serve as a crucial component for anti-ship and attack missions due to its large payload capacity.
Technical data of the J-35 Stealth Fighter
The J-35 stealth fighter features a design for a single pilot and measures 17.3 meters in length. Its dimensions, including an 11.5-meter wingspan and a height of 4.8 meters, are optimized for both aerodynamic efficiency and compatibility with aircraft carriers. The aircraft has a wing area of 50 square meters, enhancing its lift capabilities and maneuverability.
It has a maximum takeoff weight of 28,000 kg and is propelled by two WS-13 afterburning turbofan engines. Each engine delivers a dry thrust of 56.75 kN, which increases to 87.2 kN with afterburner, allowing the aircraft to achieve speeds up to Mach 1.8 at high altitudes and Mach 1.14 at sea level.
The J-35's operational range is 1,200 km on internal fuel, which extends to 1,900 km with in-flight refueling, offering considerable versatility in mission planning. It can operate at altitudes up to 16,000 meters, facilitating engagements above most ground-based defense systems.
Equipped with six external hardpoints and an internal weapons bay, the J-35 has the capacity to carry up to 8,000 kilograms of munitions. Its payload includes an assortment of medium-range air-to-air missiles, supersonic air-to-ground missiles, and bombs.
The aircraft's advanced avionics suite encompasses the KLJ-7A AESA radar, a distributed aperture system for situational awareness, and an electro-optical targeting system, enhancing its combat effectiveness.
Covered in waterproof cloth, full-scale models of a stealth fighter jet reportedly called the J-35 (right) and a J-15 fighter jet are spotted on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Liaoning in Dalian Shipyard, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, in mid-February, 2024. Photo: VCG
A mockup of a stealth fighter jet, reportedly the J-35, was recently spotted on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, prompting experts to say on Monday that China's next generation carrier-based fighter jet is not exclusive to the catapult-equipped carrier Fujian, but can also be used on ramp-equipped carriers Liaoning and Shandong.
After nearly a year of work, the scheduled maintenance and upgrade work on China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is near its end, Hong Kong-based news website wenweipo.com reported on Sunday, attaching several photos taken by its reporter showing the recent status of the Liaoning in Dalian Shipyard, Northeast China's Liaoning Province.
Citing the photos, wenweipo.com said that a full-scale model of a J-35 fighter jet, wrapped in waterproof cloth, appeared on the Liaoning's flight deck after the Spring Festival holidays, and had conducted deck movement and dispatch tests over the past few days.
It marked the debut of China's carrier-based fifth-generation stealth fighter jet on the Liaoning, following its first appearance on the Fujian, the report said, noting that the J-35 is expected to become a main aircraft of the Liaoning, the Shandong and the Fujian, as the carrier groups of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will receive significant boosts in comprehensive combat capabilities.
One of the photos shows that little change has been made to the appearance of the aircraft carrier itself.
The carrier Liaoning started its scheduled maintenance and upgrade work on February 28, 2023, wenweipo.com reported at the time.
Regular maintenance usually takes a few months to half a year, so a full year of maintenance is likely to have involved more complicated upgrades, including to the carrier's interior, like adding support for new aircraft and updating its command and control systems, given that no obvious changes can be seen from its appearance, experts told the Global Times on Monday.
It was previously unclear among observers if the J-35 will only operate on China's third aircraft carrier Fujian, which is China's first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults. Having a mockup of the J-35 on the flight deck of the Liaoning is an indication that the stealth fighter jet will likely also operate on the Liaoning, which uses a ski-jump ramp to assist aircraft takeoffs, and by extension, the Shandong, which also uses the ramp, experts said.
The photos by wenweipo.com also show that a full-scale model of the J-15 was tested alongside the J-35 model on the Liaoning's flight deck.
Analysts said that the J-35 is expected to be responsible for seizing air superiority and penetrating hostile defenses, while the J-15 is expected to remain a vital part of carrier groups taking advantage of its large payload capacity, and carry out more anti-ship and attack roles.
Since the J-35 is a medium-sized aircraft, trading in some heavy J-15s can lead to having more J-35s on the carrier, analysts said.
The combination of the J-35 and the J-15 will greatly boost the Chinese carriers' capabilities, experts said, noting that the Liaoning, originally a training carrier refitted from the ex-Soviet Varyag, has now surpassed carriers from France, the UK, India and Japan in terms of comprehensive combat capabilities.
At a time when the US is reportedly deploying more aircraft carriers to China's doorstep, the PLA having more capable carriers of its own is important for balancing strategic power, protecting national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as safeguarding regional peace and stability, experts said.
첫댓글 J-35가 안에 1,000 파운드 폭탄 2발과 BVR 미사일 2발을 넣을 수 있다면 그 상태에서 F-35B와 전투행동반경, RCS 등을 비교해야 할 것 같네요.
파키스탄에 수출이 되어야 그런 자료들을 얻을 수 있을 지.. ㅎㅎ