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Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jet has successfully carried out the first
arrested deck landing on the country’s only aircraft carrier,
the Liaoning, Xinhua reported on Sunday citing naval sources.
This achievement marks a crucial step in the development of China’s
ambitious aircraft carrier program as landing tests of carrier-based
aircraft are the most challenging to perform. |
“Capabilities
of the carrier platform and the J-15 have been tested, meeting all requirements
and achieving good compatibility,” the Chinese Navy said.
The J-15s had made many landings on land-based mock-ups of Liaoning’s
deck and performed a number of touch-and-go take-offs and landings during
sea trials last month before attempting an arrested landing on the deck
of the aircraft carrier, according to Chinese naval experts.
Since the Liaoning entered service in September 2012, its crew has completed
more than 100 training and testing programs.
The Admiral Kuznetsov class Varyag aircraft carrier was 70% complete
when China bought it from Ukraine for $20 million in 1998. Before being
sold, the ship was disarmed and its engines were removed.
China launched a complete overhaul of the ship in 2002, also developing
carrier-based aircraft. Beijing has repeatedly insisted the carrier
poses no threat to its neighbors and that it will primarily be used
for training and research.
The 1,000-ft vessel is designed to carry 26 aircraft and 24 helicopters. |
