TSAMTO, August 18. The Chinese company Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), apparently, has started production of the fourth serial batch of deck-based multi-purpose fighters J-15.
As reported by Janes.com, a photo published on August 1 on the social network Weibo shows a J-15 with the PLA Navy naval aviation markings and the production number 0401.
The plane was photographed in a hangar and several representatives of the Navy saluted, possibly as part of an event dedicated to the 94th anniversary of the founding of the PLA.
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), announced the resumption of production of the J-15 in February 2020. At the same time, the manufacturer published photos showing at least one J-15 painted in green camouflage. The plane was part of a new batch, which is now believed to be the third. A few months later, in early October 2020, images of two J-15s with factory numbers 0303 and 0306 appeared.
Since 2012, the J-15 (a modification of the Soviet Su-33) has been the only carrier-based aircraft of the PLA Navy. A total of 24 aircraft were delivered to the fleet in two batches before production was apparently suspended in mid-2017.
At least two J-15s crashed and two more were damaged. At the moment, it is unclear how many aircraft from the third and fourth batches will be produced (in total, it is assumed that the J-15 fleet will be 42 units). These aircraft are likely to be part of the air group of the second aircraft carrier of the PLA Navy "Shandong". It is also possible that the J-15 at the first stage will also become part of the air group of the third aircraft carrier, which will be equipped with an ejection take-off and landing system using an aerial finisher (CATOBAR), until the new fighter enters service.
The J-15 variant was modified to work from a catapult with a new front wheel support, equipped with a tow hook and a stronger strut. Other options include a two-seat training aircraft, the J-15S, which reportedly first flew in 2012, but has not yet been put into production. Another two-seat prototype, called the J-15D, is apparently a variant of electronic warfare, equipped with jamming units on the wingtips.
Currently, SAC is developing a new carrier-based fighter based on the FC-31 demonstrator. Judging by the images published on social networks in early July, a prototype of this fighter was delivered to the Central Flight Test Center of the PLA Air Force at the Yangliang Air Base in Xianyang for static tests.
In addition, a photo was recently posted on social networks, which for the first time shows a long-range strategic bomber H-6K of the PLA Air Force, armed, apparently, with 500-kg aerial bombs. The plane was photographed with 12 such bombs on six pylons.