China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has received its first two J-35 carrier-based stealth fighter, directly challenging the US naval stealth jet superiority.
While the US Navy has over 110 F-35Cs on its aircraft carriers, China is still in the nascent phase of deploying its naval stealth fighters. But given the speed and scale at which the Chinese defence shipyards have churned out aircraft carriers in the last few years, it won’t be a surprise if it catches up with the US before long.Also Read: Delta pilot’s daring move: how a split-second decision saved flight from mid-air B-52 disaster
Compared to 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the US Navy, the most by any country, China has only two – the Liaoning and Shandong – in active service. China’s third carrier Fujian is undergoing sea trials. It is also building a fourth aircraft carrier, codenamed “Type 004”. The first three Chinses aircraft carriers are conventionally powered but Type 004 will have nuclear propulsion.
Shenyang J-35 joins Chinese Navy
A series of photos posted on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo show two J-35s flying with their tail number clearly visible. One of the J-35 has the number 0011 and the second one is 0012. But the aircraft carrier on which the stealth fighters have been deployed is still not clear although a closeup analysis of the photos show the pilots wearing bright blue helmets, a standard issue for Chinese naval pilots.
The jets were photographed flying together and with the J-15B, a fourth+ generation jet in service with the Chinese Navy. Shark markings, the same as those on the other naval fighter J-15B, on J-35s indicate they are already in service with with the Chinese Navy.China has bulit a massive 270,000-square-meter facility in the Shenbei New District where Shenyang Aircraft Corporation will produce the J-35 stealth fighters. According to indedpendent western analysts, the new facility is capable of churning out 100 aircraft annually, showcasing the Chinese desire and ability to quickly reach a level where it can pose a strong challenge to the US Navy.Also Read: Corey Adams to Alex Foster: Rising US college stars killed in senseless shootings
A few months back, there was a chatter on Chinese social media that the J-35 were undergoing trials on Fujian.
In another first, China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers in June 2025 operated together in the Pacific Ocean, another signal to the US that its naval supremacy was no longer a certainty. The two ships conducted combat maneuvres and sent their fighters on patrol.
American F-35
The F-35C is in service with many American aircraft carriers. The naval version of the F-35A and B, the C has bigger but foladable wings for carrier operations. The larger wing area gives the F-35C a bigger range and heavier payload carrying capability. It also helps the F-35C reduce its landing speed rapidly as it descends on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
It features additional ailerons along the folding sections of the wings. The fighter’s 25 mm GAU-22A cannon has 220 rounds for close quarter combat.F-35Cs deployed on USS Abraham Lincoln made their combat debut during an operation against Iranian-backed Houthi armed group in Yemen in November 2024.
