Shenyang J-15

J-15 Flying Shark
Two J-15s from Liaoning
Role Carrier-based multirole fighter
National origin China
Manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
First flight August 2009[1]
Introduction 2013
Status In production
Primary user People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Number built 60[2]
Developed from Sukhoi Su-33
Shenyang J-11B

The Shenyang J-15 (Chinese: 歼-15), also known as Flying Shark (Chinese: 飞鲨; pinyin: Fēishā; NATO reporting name: Flanker-X2,[3]) is a Chinese all-weather, twin-engine, carrier-based 4.5 generation[4] multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) and the 601 Institute, specifically for the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) to serve on People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) aircraft carriers.

The T-10K-3, an unfinished prototype of the Su-33,[5] was acquired by SAC from Ukraine[6] in 2001 and is claimed to have been studied extensively and reverse-engineered, with development on the J-15 beginning immediately afterward.[7][8] While the J-15 appears to be structurally based on the prototype of Su-33, the fighter features indigenous Chinese technologies as well as avionics from the Shenyang J-11B program.[9] In February 2018, discussions about replacing the aircraft appeared in several Chinese media outlets including Xinhua and China's main military newspaper, discussing that it belongs to the 4th- or 4.5-generation fighters. Thus, the J-15 is viewed as an interim carrier-based fighter until a fifth-generation successor enters service, one that is based on the Shenyang J-35.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference td_2104 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.
  3. ^ "Chinese Equipment Guide" (PDF). US Navy Intelligence Office.
  4. ^ F_161. "Experts' comparative analysis of performance between J-15 and U.S. F-18 - People's Daily Online". en.people.cn. Archived from the original on 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2018-07-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Donald, David (9 May 2011). "China's J-15 Flying Shark Shown Taking Off". AIN Online.
  6. ^ Kopp, Carlo (January 27, 2014). "PLA-AF and PLA-N Flanker Variants". p. 1.
  7. ^ "Revealing Shenyang J-XX Stealth Fighter of China - What's On Xiamen". whatsonxiamen.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. ^ "俄方称中国自研先进战机不顺 仍将回头购俄战机_军事_凤凰网". ifeng.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. ^ Fulghum, David A. "New Chinese Ship-Based Fighter Progresses". Article. Aviation Week. Retrieved 27 April 2011.