All three of China’s aircraft carriers could soon be able to operate the country’s J-35 stealth fighter, which Chinese experts say would “significantly” bolster the PLA Navy’s combat abilities.
Currently, only China’s most advanced carrier, the Fujian, can host the J-35 as it has an electromagnetic catapult to assist the fifth-generation fighter into the air.
The Liaoning and Shandong carriers launch J-15 fighters from an upwardly curved “ski-jump” deck.
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However, there are signs that the two older vessels are being upgraded.
“The Liaoning is training in the western Pacific, could the J-35 be on board?” the military channel of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said in a social media post on Wednesday.
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China does not usually announce military developments while they are still in progress, but it sometimes uses state media to imply or tease new developments.
