The J-15 first used a land-based ski jump in 2010 and began carrier takeoff trials from Liaoning in 2012. After the formal test phase, the first twenty-four aircraft entered the carrier fighter force around 2013. A J-15T prototype followed by 2016 as China prepared for catapult operations, while the two-seat J-15D electronic-warfare aircraft first flew in 2018. China continued developing its first carrier fighter after initial acceptance and used it as a platform for new ships and missions.
Chapter · 43:46-45:32
From ski-jump testing to specialized J-15 variants
Land-based ski-jump tests, carrier trials, fleet entry, catapult prototypes, and electronic-warfare variants trace the program's development alongside China's carriers.