Military Situation Update: Weapons and Radar Significantly Upgraded! J-15T Boosts Liaoning Ship's Combat Capability

Our independently developed

single-seat heavy catapult carrier-based fighter jet J-15T

recently made its public debut

during the Liaoning aircraft carrier group's long-range realistic combat training

Why train the catapult version of the J-15

on the ski-jump carrier Liaoning?

What capabilities did it demonstrate during the training?

Click the video below to review the training scene

On the morning of June 22, after more than 40 days of continuous long-range training, the Liaoning aircraft carrier group successfully completed its long-range realistic combat training and safely returned to its home port in Qingdao.

During this training, the group continuously operated in multiple maritime and aerial domains, including the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, planning and organizing joint shore-sea confrontation, carrier-based aircraft tactical flights, and group search and rescue training. Based on the requirements for long-range realistic combat, they organized exercises for air defense, maritime strikes, support and cover, comprehensive long-range rescue, and actual weapon use, conducting multiple batches of ship-aircraft offensive and defensive confrontations across day and night, effectively testing the operational capabilities of the carrier group in long-range combat scenarios.

△ J-15T carrier-based aircraft

Multiple J-15T carrier-based aircraft took off and landed on the Liaoning. The J-15T is our independently developed single-seat heavy catapult carrier-based fighter jet. It is an upgraded model based on the J-15 "Flying Shark," enhancing the avionics weapon system and aircraft platform performance, further highlighting carrier-based characteristics and sea suitability.

In a certain maritime area of the Western Pacific, the Liaoning carrier group also conducted joint exercises with an amphibious assault ship group. The Type 075 amphibious assault ship carries helicopters such as Z-8, Z-9, Z-20, and Ka-28, and conducted system integration training with the Liaoning carrier group, honing the operational effectiveness of the carrier group in conjunction with the amphibious assault ship group for long-range combat actions.

△ Z-8 medium multi-purpose helicopter

The Z-8 medium multi-purpose helicopter is the first large transport helicopter delivered for use by our armed forces. After decades of development, it has formed a large family of variants with "one aircraft, multiple types, and one type, multiple versions," with over 40 derivative models covering various fields including maritime, land, air, and civilian applications.

△ Z-9 series anti-submarine helicopter

The Z-9 series anti-submarine helicopter is an important carrier-based anti-submarine force currently in service with our navy, having undergone multiple iterations and featuring numerous variants. Its latest derivative model, the Z-9F, was publicly showcased at the 2024 China Airshow.

△ Naval version of the Z-20

The naval version of the Z-20 is our independently developed 10-ton class medium twin-engine carrier-based multi-purpose helicopter, optimized for maritime environments, featuring a foldable five-blade main rotor and hydraulic retractable tail boom design, capable of performing various missions including ground fire support, anti-submarine operations, troop transport, maritime search and rescue, vertical replenishment, and patrol.

Military experts: J-15T is compatible with catapult operations, with significant upgrades in structure, avionics, and weapons

Military commentator Zhang Xuefeng introduced that the J-15T carrier-based fighter jet is an improved version developed based on the basic model J-15. It is a catapult-compatible carrier-based fighter jet, and more importantly, in addition to some structural adaptive improvements, it has undergone significant upgrades in avionics systems and onboard weapons.

For example, it uses a brand new active phased array radar, which has significantly increased its detection range and greatly enhanced its electronic warfare capabilities.

Its onboard weapons have also been upgraded, adding the PL-15 air-to-air missile. Its radar detection range is far-reaching, allowing it to fully utilize the range advantages of the PL-15 air-to-air missile.

Zhang Xuefeng stated that after the Liaoning aircraft carrier is equipped with this fighter jet, the overall air superiority combat capability and strike capability against sea and land targets can be greatly enhanced.