J-15 carrier-borne fighter thread

[Blitzo]

Also, at this stage it's more or less agreed by everyone that a "J-15B" should be at some stage of development, featuring the kind of avionics and weapons suite that we've observed on land based 4.5 gen aircraft. The question which needs answering is whether "J-15B" will be designed from the outset to be catapult compatible (identifiable via nosegear catapult bar) or not.

Obviously if "J-15B" is catapult compatible to begin with, then that means not only will all J-15Bs produced be capable of operating from the STOBAR carriers (Liaoning and 002), but also all future CATOBAR carriers (003 and so on). That also means the production run of J-15Bs can be extended quite a bit to fill the airwings of all future carriers (STOBAR carriers and CATOBAR carriers) rather than having to switch production to a future catapult compatible variant of J-15 for CATOBAR carriers.
The added benefit of that, is when 003 does enter service in the early 2020s, there will be quite a large fleet of J-15Bs and pilots that will immediately begin to operate from it with relatively minor retraining necessary, allowing 003 to develop a combat capability faster than if they had to wait on a CATOBAR unique variant of J-15.


Also, regardless of whether J-15B is catapult compatible or not, if that picture does show one (or two) J-15Bs, then obviously they would have reached a certain level of testing already, and for them to be "leaked" in a TV report would indicate they've existed for a little while now.
Yet I don't think we've had any definitive rumours over the last two years of a J-15B maiden flight.

 

[Hyperwarp]

Assuming the J-15B and J-15T are not the same thing, what are the changes applied to the J-15B? Will the J-15B have systems similar to the J-16/J-11D?

 

[Blitzo]

Assuming the J-15B and J-15T are not the same thing, what are the changes applied to the J-15B? Will the J-15B have systems similar to the J-16/J-11D?

Rumours are scarce but I think it can be safely assumed that the primary advancements would be avionics.
Sensors, datalinks, mission computers, displays etc.


But it's not like we have that much detail about just how much more capable the totality of J-16's avionics suite is compared to say, J-11B, apart from knowing that it has an AESA radar and likely has more advanced avionics in other domains too.

 

[SinoSoldier]

One of the aircraft (the one huitong chose to mark as "J-15T") has a position marker on its tail, meaning it could certainly be the old "J-15T" tech demo for catapults, but the picture isn't very clear for us to be able to ID a catapult bar on the nosegear (for either of the two aircraft).

On the other hand, we know older J-15 prototypes also had position markers on their tail, so it's possible it could merely be an older J-15 prototype (though unlikely).

It is also possible that both aircraft are actually of the same type, i.e.: the "J-15B". The aircraft with the position marker is currently conducting certain tests where those markers are needed and the other aircraft is conducting other tests where they are not. Unfortunately we are unable to identify nosegear again to tell if either of them have a catapult bar.

My disagreement wasn't with the possibility that one of them was the J-15T demonstrator (although this is extremely unlikely since the 15T had already been painted in PLAN grey), but with Huitong's assertion that the J-15T is an active project and will equip future carriers. The J-15T is only a sole prototype and further iterations of the J-15B will unlikely be split between a STOBAR-specific and CATOBAR-compatible variant types.

 

[Blitzo]

My disagreement wasn't with the possibility that one of them was the J-15T demonstrator (although this is extremely unlikely since the 15T had already been painted in PLAN grey), but with Huitong's assertion that the J-15T is an active project and will equip future carriers. The J-15T is only a sole prototype and further iterations of the J-15B will unlikely be split between a STOBAR-specific and CATOBAR-compatible variant types.

Yes, I was more wanting to point out that at least one if not both aircraft could potentially just be previous J-15 prototypes and not freshly built airframes. That said it certainly isn't J-15T as that airframe was indeed painted grey.


As for the overall designation of J-15T and J-15B etc, I think the designations are still a bit iffy. Personally I tend to also believe that whatever production ready catapult variant of J-15 emerges will not be called J-15T, and I think it would make sense for the PLAN to push the modern 4.5 gen/J-16 equivalent avionic variant of J-15 (i.e.: J-15B) to be carrier compatible from the outset.

I would be interested to read what @huitong's thinking is, behind whether or not he thinks J-15B will be carrier compatible or not from the beginning.

 

[SinoSoldier]

Yes, I was more wanting to point out that at least one if not both aircraft could potentially just be previous J-15 prototypes and not freshly built airframes. That said it certainly isn't J-15T as that airframe was indeed painted grey.


As for the overall designation of J-15T and J-15B etc, I think the designations are still a bit iffy. Personally I tend to also believe that whatever production ready catapult variant of J-15 emerges will not be called J-15T, and I think it would make sense for the PLAN to push the modern 4.5 gen/J-16 equivalent avionic variant of J-15 (i.e.: J-15B) to be carrier compatible from the outset.

I would be interested to read what @huitong's thinking is, behind whether or not he thinks J-15B will be carrier compatible or not from the beginning.

From a logistical and industrial standpoint, streamlining J-15X (X=upgrade) variants to be catapult-capable would be beneficial for both training and deployment purposes. Sure, the landing gear might increase the unit cost but I'd imagine that it would be offset by the flexibility it provides the PLAN.

 

[Intrepid]

Obviously if "J-15B" is catapult compatible to begin with, then that means not only will all J-15Bs produced be capable of operating from the STOBAR carriers (Liaoning and 002), but also all future CATOBAR carriers (003 and so on). That also means the production run of J-15Bs can be extended quite a bit to fill the airwings of all future carriers (STOBAR carriers and CATOBAR carriers) rather than having to switch production to a future catapult compatible variant of J-15 for CATOBAR carriers.
The added benefit of that, is when 003 does enter service in the early 2020s, there will be quite a large fleet of J-15Bs and pilots that will immediately begin to operate from it with relatively minor retraining necessary, allowing 003 to develop a combat capability faster than if they had to wait on a CATOBAR unique variant of J-15.

A STOBAR/CATOBAR-variant is neccessary for cross deck operation, if both types of carriers are together in the same mission.

 

[Blitzo]

From a logistical and industrial standpoint, streamlining J-15X (X=upgrade) variants to be catapult-capable would be beneficial for both training and deployment purposes. Sure, the landing gear might increase the unit cost but I'd imagine that it would be offset by the flexibility it provides the PLAN.

I agree. Given the stage of development of the J-15 platform prior to this as well as what we've known about PLAN carrier procurement overall, it would've made a lot of sense for the next major upgraded J-15 variant (i.e.: J-15B, J-15X whatever we want to call it) to be CATOBAR capable.

Cost and/or perceived technical risk might be reasons preventing them going that route, but I don't think we've heard anything either way at this stage. Yet the benefits of having J-15B be CATOBAR compatible immediately are many.
That's why I'd be interested to know huitong's thinking for why he says J-15B may not be CATOBAR.

A STOBAR/CATOBAR-variant is neccessary for cross deck operation, if both types of carriers are together in the same mission.

The way I see it, a CATOBAR variant will be capable of operating on both STOBAR and CATOBAR carriers, but a STOBAR variant will only be capable of operating from STOBAR carriers.

 

[SinoSoldier]

A slightly larger version of the previous suspected J-15B photo:


Perhaps it is just the effect of the tarpaulin blowing in the wind, but does anyone get the feeling that the J-15B's fuselage is "thicker" than that of the supposed J-15T towards the rear?

 

[Blitzo]

A slightly larger version of the previous suspected J-15B photo:
View attachment 50709

Perhaps it is just the effect of the tarpaulin blowing in the wind, but does anyone get the feeling that the J-15B's fuselage is "thicker" than that of the supposed J-15T towards the rear?

Well it definitely looks thicker based on the tarpulin covering it but I'd be surprised if it actually reflected the aircraft's fuselage. Chances are it's just the way it was tied down and/or the wind.