Chinese officials acknowledged mechanical failures, and improved J-15 versions followed as experience accumulated. Even a higher accident total than the two cited here would not automatically make the program a failure. Carrier aviation imposes severe demands, and China was simultaneously training a new service around its first fixed-wing carrier aircraft. The accident record needs institutional and generational context as well as raw totals, while the acknowledged failures still demanded correction.
Notable Point · 53:51-55:07
Putting J-15 accidents in first-generation context
The J-15 suffered crashes and acknowledged mechanical failures. Its record must be weighed against the risks of creating a carrier-aviation service from scratch.