Article Posted on : - Apr 26, 2011

Carrier based fighter aircraft 'J-15'

BEIJING (PTI): China has claimed to have developed a carrier based fighter aircraft called 'J-15' to be deployed on its first aircraft carrier, a refurbished version of a partially built vessel purchased from Ukraine, the state media has said.

J-15, called a heavy fighter, was unveiled by the official media here in pictures and with comments by analysts about its capacity and strike abilities.

"Heavy ship borne fighters will boost the aircraft carrier fleet's air defence capability and enhance the fleet's strike ability," Lan Yun, the editor of Beijing-based magazine the Modern Ships, told state-run Global Times.

"They can carry many air-to-air missiles or air-to-surface missiles and other kinds of airborne munitions.

And they have the benefit of long combat radius," Lan said.

The fighters are to be stationed onboard the Chinese Varyag aircraft carrier, which is under renovation in Dalian, the daily said.

The photos of the fighter were taken outside the airfield of the No 112 Factory of Shenyang Aircraft Industry Corporation, a company of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The fighter has distinctive features that enable it to operate on an aircraft carrier, such as folding wings and strengthened landing gear, according to the Chinese Military Aviation (CMA).