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J-15

Shenyang Aircraft · Fighter / Attack · China · Digital Age (2010–present)

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The Shenyang J-15 'Flying Shark' (Chinese: 飞鲨) is a twin-engine, single-seat (or two-seat trainer) supersonic carrier-based multirole fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation as a carrier-based derivative of the Su-27 / J-11 family. Service entry with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) Air Force came in 2013, giving China its principal carrier-based fighter. The aircraft was developed for operations from the carriers Liaoning, Shandong, and the newer Fujian. More than 70 J-15s have been produced across several variants, and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation continues building the type for PLA Navy carrier-aviation requirements.

The airframe measures roughly 73 ft (22.0 m) long with a 49-ft (14.7 m) wingspan, reworked for carrier operations with folding wings, a strengthened structure for catapult and arrestor work, and canard foreplanes for low-speed handling. Empty weight is around 39,300 lb and maximum take-off weight 72,750 lb. Power comes from either Russian-licensed AL-31F or Chinese-developed WS-10H afterburning turbofans rated between 17,800 and 22,500 lbf with afterburner depending on variant. Top speed is Mach 2.4 (around 1,580 mph at altitude), service ceiling 65,000 ft, and combat radius about 800 nmi. Distinguishing features include the folding wings, strengthened landing gear, and arrestor hook; the design heritage traces to the Russian Su-33, the original Soviet/Russian carrier-based Su-27 derivative. Mission systems are Chinese-developed, and weapons include the PL-12 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles plus the YJ-83K anti-ship missile.

Several variants make up the family. The J-15 is the initial production carrier-based version. The J-15D is an electronic-warfare variant analogous in role to the U.S. EA-18G Growler. The J-15S is the two-seat trainer. The J-15B is the current-production model with WS-10H engines and updated mission systems. The family flies from Liaoning (CV-16, since 2012), Shandong (CV-17, since 2019), and the new Type 003 carrier (CV-18, due in service from 2025). Combat employment to date covers South China Sea patrols, training exercises, and other PLA Navy missions. The service-entry phase was bumpy: multiple crashes occurred during initial fielding, the original AL-31F engines suffered reliability problems, and the airframe weight and structural changes constrained payload and range. The J-15B with WS-10H engines addresses much of this.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark is China's first carrier-based fighter jet. It is based on the Russian Su-33, which is itself a naval version of the Su-27. The J-15 flies from China's two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, and from the newer Fujian which started sea trials in 2024.

The J-15 has two AL-31F engines (or Chinese WS-10 engines on newer versions), pushing the jet to Mach 2.4, more than twice the speed of sound. It is one of the largest carrier fighters in the world, with strong landing gear and a tail hook for catching arrest wires on the carrier deck. Wings fold up to save space in the ship's hangar.

The J-15 carries Chinese-made missiles including the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, YJ-83 anti-ship missile, and laser-guided bombs. A nose-mounted 30 mm cannon backs them up for close-in fights. Each J-15 weighs around 38,000 pounds empty, similar to the F-15 Eagle.

China has about 60 J-15s today and is building more. A newer J-15B version with AESA radar is being phased in. The J-15 lets China project naval air power across the Pacific for the first time, an important step in becoming a global naval force.

Fun Facts

The J-15 is China's first home-built carrier fighter, named the Flying Shark.
Its wings fold up so 24 J-15s can fit on a Chinese aircraft carrier.
Top speed is Mach 2.4, faster than a rifle bullet.
The J-15 is based on a Su-33 fighter that Ukraine sold to China in 2001.
Three Chinese aircraft carriers (Liaoning, Shandong, and Fujian) can carry J-15s.
About 60 J-15s are in service with the Chinese Navy as of 2026.
The J-15 is one of the largest carrier fighters in the world, similar in size to an F-15 Eagle.

Kids’ Questions

How does it land on a ship?

The J-15 lowers a heavy hook from its tail. As the jet lands on the carrier, the hook catches a steel wire stretched across the deck. The wire stops the plane in just 300 feet, slowing it from 150 mph to 0 in two seconds. Carrier landings are violent and dangerous, which is why carrier pilots train more than any other Navy pilots.

Why is it called Flying Shark?

The Chinese Navy nicknamed the J-15 'Flying Shark' (Fei Sha in Chinese). The name fits because the J-15 is a powerful naval fighter, like a shark in the sky over the ocean. Most Chinese fighters have an unofficial nickname, often picked by pilots or factory workers.

How is it different from the Su-33?

The J-15 is based on the Russian Su-33, but China has changed many parts. The radar, weapons, electronics, and engines are now Chinese-made. The newer J-15B has a Chinese AESA radar and helmet-mounted sight, both better than what Russian Su-33s carry. Externally, the planes look very similar but they are now quite different inside.

Variants

J-15 (initial production 2013+): Original 2013 carrier-based variant. Around 50 delivered. Operates from Liaoning and Shandong.
J-15S (two-seat trainer): Two-seat trainer used for J-15 conversion training and other operational tasks. Around 12 delivered.
J-15D (electronic-warfare 2018+): Electronic-warfare carrier variant analogous to the U.S. EA-18G Growler. Limited deployment from Chinese carriers. Around 10 delivered.
J-15B (current production 2020+): Updated variant with Chinese WS-10H engines, new mission systems, and expanded weapons compatibility. The principal current J-15. Around 30 delivered.
J-15T (Type 003-CV variant): Variant reworked for catapult-launched operations from the new Fujian carrier using its electromagnetic catapult. Initial deliveries from 2024.
Sukhoi Su-33 'Sea Flanker' (Russian heritage): Russian original carrier-based Su-27 derivative. Around 24 built. Limited Russian Navy use. Provided design heritage for the J-15.

Notable Operators

People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force: Sole operator. More than 70 J-15 / J-15S / J-15D / J-15B in active service, flying from Liaoning (CV-16), Shandong (CV-17), and (planned) the new Type 003 carrier Fujian (CV-18).
Foreign / export: None. The J-15 is exclusively Chinese-operated; carrier-based fighter export is rare worldwide given the specialised carrier-deck and shipboard training requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does J-15 compare to Su-33?

Both are carrier-based members of the Su-27 family. The Russian Sukhoi Su-33 'Sea Flanker' was the original carrier variant, with around 24 built and limited Russian Navy use. The Chinese J-15 'Flying Shark' carries Chinese mission systems, Chinese weapons (PL-12 / PL-15), an updated cockpit, and sees far broader frontline use. The J-15 flies more sorties than the Su-33: Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov has been largely out of service since 2016, while China fields three PLA Navy carriers. The J-15 represents successful Chinese indigenisation and expansion of the carrier-based fighter force.

What are J-15's reliability issues?

Several in-service challenges have surfaced. First, multiple J-15 crashes during initial fielding from 2014 to 2018, including the 2016 Liaoning carrier-deck crash. Second, reliability problems with the original AL-31F Russian-licensed engines and early Chinese-built WS-10A engines. Third, weight and structural-modification penalties affecting payload and range. Fourth, the difficulty of ski-jump-launched carrier operations from Liaoning and Shandong; catapult-launched operations from the Type 003 Fujian provide better performance. The J-15B programme and Fujian's electromagnetic catapult address most of these issues, though the type's introduction has been difficult despite its importance among indigenous Chinese fighters.

What is Fujian aircraft carrier?

Fujian is China's third aircraft carrier (Type 003, CV-18), a roughly 80,000-tonne ship fitted with an electromagnetic catapult launch system similar in concept to the U.S. Navy Gerald R. Ford-class. Launched in 2022, with sea trials beginning in 2024, the ship is to enter service from 2025. The electromagnetic catapult lets the new ship launch heavier aircraft with more fuel and weapons than the ski-jump carriers Liaoning and Shandong allow. The J-15T is the carrier-based fighter that flies from it.

How does J-15 differ from F-35C Lightning II?

They belong to different generations. F-35C Lightning II is a 5th-generation stealth multirole fighter, single-engine, used by the U.S. Navy. The J-15 is a 4.5-generation conventional multirole, twin-engine, used by the PLA Navy. The F-35C has far better stealth and sensors; the J-15 has the edge in long-range strike payload and Chinese-specific weapons. Different missions, different design philosophies. The future Chinese J-35 (an FC-31-derived 5th-generation carrier fighter) will be the direct F-35C equivalent.

Will J-15 be replaced?

Partial replacement is likely. The J-35, a 5th-generation stealth carrier-based fighter developed from FC-31, is planned to add stealth to the carrier air wing. First flight came in 2021, with frontline fielding planned around 2027-2030. The J-35 and J-15 together will give the PLA Navy a mixed 5th- and 4.5-generation carrier-based fighter force, comparable to the U.S. Navy's F-35C and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet pairing. The J-15 family is expected to remain in PLA Navy service through 2040 alongside the emerging J-35.

Sources

AVIC — Shenyang J-15
Wikipedia — Shenyang J-15 — CC BY-SA.