Is Chinese naval air power ready for action?
The J-35A flying at Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/中国新闻社)
What role will the new jets and aircraft carriers of the People’s Liberation Army Navy play in Beijing’s wider fleet?
Much has been made of China’s ambitions to become a full-spectrum ‘blue water’ naval power, with a necessarily potent embarked aviation arm. With new information emerging about the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carriers and the fast jets they will deploy, it is timely to examine what role these assets will play, and how Beijing intends to integrate them into the wider fleet.
Around three years ago, the first images appeared of what was thought to be the PLAN’s new fighter aircraft. This was a wholly indigenous design, initially given the designation FC-31.
At the Zhuhai Airshow in November
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Fuselage of the first US Army MV-75 Cheyenne tiltrotor “is nearing completion”]()
Fuselage of the first US Army MV-75 Cheyenne tiltrotor “is nearing completion”
Bell is advancing construction of the US Army’s next-generation MV-75 Cheyenne tiltrotor as FLRAA programme approaches testing, production and future battlefield deployment.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Low-cost airpower emerges as a new counter-drone option]()
Eurosatory 2026: Low-cost airpower emerges as a new counter-drone option
Lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East are prompting fresh interest in using training aircraft and other low-cost platforms to support airborne counter-drone operations, creating new opportunities for weapons suppliers and air forces seeking scalable solutions.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: First public flight of Teledyne FLIR Black Recon reconnaissance system]()
Eurosatory 2026: First public flight of Teledyne FLIR Black Recon reconnaissance system
The drone took flight as undisclosed European customers are testing the system. Defence Insight highlights the Nordic region and existing Black Hornet users as potential early customers amid growing demand for micro-UAVs.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: The H160M’s agnostic approach to drones draws global interest]()
Eurosatory 2026: The H160M’s agnostic approach to drones draws global interest
As Airbus Helicopters advances its H160M Guépard programme towards targeted first delivery in late 2028 for the French Army, the platform’s “agnostic” approach to drone integration could offer a window into how Western militaries are rethinking the relationship between crewed rotorcraft and uncrewed systems.
