The first ever footage of the integration tests between the J-15T fighter jet and China’s aircraft carrier Fujian, equipped with electromagnetic catapults, was published by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).
The video begins with a J-15T aboard Type 003 Fujian, being prepared for launch by the crew, followed by an officer giving the green light for takeoff, saying, “Position 2, clear for takeoff.”
The footage does not show the aircraft taking off, and the frame quickly moves on to the shadow of the aircraft on the deck as it takes off and gets airborne. The footage was published on July 30, ahead of the 98th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on August 1.
The development comes months after the carrier underwent an “intensive” eighth sea trial in late May 2025. There have been speculations that the PLAN has been testing carrier-capable aircraft, including the J-15 and the fifth-generation J-35, from the deck of the aircraft.
Earlier, experts pointed to tyre marks on the carrier, which were attributed to potential “touch-and-go” landings on its deck.
The latest test represented a significant milestone, especially as the Fujian is expected to enter service sometime this year, according to military analysts cited by state-owned Global Times.
According to experts, Fujian’s electromagnetic catapult and arresting technologies may have been validated during sea trials. While the system must have passed land tests, the tests must be conducted at sea on a real aircraft carrier.
Before being officially commissioned, a variety of aircraft types, including heavy fighter jets, medium-weight fighter jets, early warning aircraft, and even light trainer jets, would need to undergo the necessary testing.
The J-15T seen in the video is a new variant of the J-15 “Flying Shark,” a 4.5-generation fighter jet based on the Soviet Su-33. The existing J-15 models are currently deployed on China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers, which utilize ski-jump ramps for takeoffs.
First-ever official footage of flight operations aboard China's newest, soon-to-be commissioned aircraft carrier, CNS Fujian (18)
On the eve of the PLA's 98th anniversary, PRC media released video showcasing another major milestone: integration tests between the electromagnetic… pic.twitter.com/wIrU4hxFi6
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) July 31, 2025
However, the J-15T has been specifically tailored for launch via a catapult, i.e., for Fujian, and the Type 004 that is currently under-development.
Visually, the J-15T can be easily distinguished from its predecessors by its reinforced nose landing gear, which features a longer and wider shock-absorbing oleo strut designed to withstand the increased stress of catapult launches.
Additionally, it is equipped with a launch bar to hook onto the catapult, further distinguishing it from the standard J-15. This ability makes the J-15T a more capable and efficient option for the PLAN’s future carriers.
In addition to the J-15T, the Fujian will host the J-35 fifth-generation carrier fighter jet and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft.
The EurAsian Times recently reported that China is likely to induct the J-35 for operations aboard the Fujian, after clear images of the aircraft were posted to Chinese social media.
At the time, People’s Liberation Army instructor Song Zhongping said the markings and flight characteristics offered the most substantial evidence yet that the J-35 had entered production and was approaching operational readiness for deployment aboard China’s latest aircraft carrier.
Separately, Chinese pilots have been training to fly the ‘eye in the sky,’ the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) that will also operate from aboard the Fujian. Last year, a broadcast featuring a Fujian insignia also showed what appeared to be an early warning aircraft flying over the carrier with a J-35 fighter jet.
Additionally, a set of images that surfaced on the social media platform Weibo showed scaled models of KJ-600 early warning and control aircraft displayed on the deck of Fujian, along with a stealth jet.
Nonetheless, the footage released by CCTV reinforces the role accorded to J-15 variants in carrier operations. Notably, another Chinese military affairs analyst, Wei Dongxu, stressed that the aircraft carrier Fujian has been steadily advancing in sea testing and is anticipated to be put into service this year.
China’s Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier Is Coming
The Fujian, China’s most advanced aircraft carrier to date, has been the subject of global attention ever since its launch. It is the first Chinese carrier designed entirely domestically and the first to feature a catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) system with electromagnetic catapults (EMALS). This makes China only the second country with this capability, after the United States.
Currently, the US Navy’s USS Gerald Ford is the world’s only aircraft carrier in service that has the EMALS launching system.
Using catapult launch systems signifies a significant leap forward in China’s naval capabilities. These systems, more effective than ski jumps, alleviate strain during takeoff, enabling the launch of larger fixed-wing aircraft with heavier payloads and increased fuel capacity.
When fully operational, this feature will enable Fujian to launch a wider variety of aircraft more efficiently, allowing China to project naval power more effectively. “With the electromagnetic catapults … the ship will have a very strong ability to fight for air and sea supremacy,” a previous CCTV report said.
The Fujian is conventionally powered and rivals the American carriers in terms of size and capabilities. It is larger than the Liaoning, which has a displacement of about 60,000 tons, and Shandong, which displaces 66,000 tons, but it is significantly smaller than US Ford-class carriers, which boast a displacement of about 100,000 tons.
The carrier has a single, pyramidal-shaped island located just aft of the ship’s center, designed to prioritize aircraft operations. The structure is integrated with radars and sensors are integrated to reduce radar cross-section and enhance survivability.
The carrier is expected to carry about 50-60 different heavy aircraft, significantly more than the capacity of PLAN’s existing carriers. The carrier will also host anti-submarine warfare choppers as well as navalized drones for future combat.
Fujian was first deployed for sea trials in May 2024 and is expected to be commissioned into service by the end of 2025. With Fujian’s induction, the PLA will have three carriers, which essentially means that the service could have at least one carrier in active deployment at all times, even if the other two are conducting training missions or undergoing maintenance at a shipyard.
The carrier will enhance China’s ability to project power in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and Western Pacific, challenging US naval dominance. In fact, Fujian is believed to be a stepping stone to the Type 004, under construction since 2024, which may be nuclear-powered and displace over 100,000 tons.
The PLA hopes to have six carriers overall by 2035, making it the second-largest blue-water navy in the world, behind (but quickly catching up) to the United States.
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